What you’ll learn
Compare two distributions.
Key idea
A shift raises the center without changing within-sample distances; mean separation can be expressed relative to supplied MAD.
A shift changes center but not within-sample MAD; overlapping/boundary observations refute universal individual ordering, and small samples are not population census.
Worked example
Enter the exact value or ordered values in the format requested below.
Observed reading samples A=[21, 27, 33, 39], B=[25, 31, 37, 43] minutes have supplied common MAD=6 minutes. Calculate (mean(B)-mean(A))/MAD as an exact number.
- The observed means are 30 and 34 minutes; difference=4 minutes.
- Each MAD is 6, so separation is 4/6=2/3 times common MAD; each range remains 18 minutes.
Answer: 2/3
Quick Check
Interpret the result of 'Compare two distributions' in the data-generating context, including units and population limits.
Observed reading samples A=[34, 38, 42, 46] and B=[39, 43, 47, 51] minutes. Interpret both center and within-sample variability, without claiming a census of both classes.