Compute the mean weight of 8 patients with the following weights in kilograms:- 85, 109, 120, 135, 158, 177, 181, 195

Appeared in: AIIMS Manglagiri NO - 2019

Explanation

The mean (or average) is calculated by summing all the values in a dataset and dividing by the total number of values.
The sum of the weights is 85 + 109 + 120 + 135 + 158 + 177 + 181 + 195 = 1160 kg.
The total number of patients is 8.
The mean weight is the total weight divided by the number of patients: 1160 ÷ 8 = 145 kg.

Option B: This is an incorrect calculation. It may result from an error in summing the weights or in the final division.
Option C: This is an incorrect calculation, likely due to an arithmetic mistake during the process.
Option D: This is an incorrect calculation. An error in addition or division would lead to this result.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Calculation of arithmetic mean as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a math question, calculating averages is a fundamental skill in healthcare. Nurses frequently calculate mean values for things like average daily fluid intake/output, average blood glucose over a week, or mean arterial pressure (MAP).
Accurate calculation is critical for monitoring patient trends and making clinical decisions. A miscalculation could lead to an incorrect assessment of a patient's condition.
What if? If one patient's weight was incorrectly recorded as 19.5 kg instead of 195 kg, the sum would be 984.5 kg, and the mean would be approximately 123 kg. This highlights how a single data entry error can significantly skew the mean and lead to incorrect interpretations.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core task, which is to compute the 'mean' of a given set of numbers.
Recall the mathematical formula for the mean: Mean = (Sum of all values) ÷ (Total number of values).
Carefully sum all the provided weights: 85 + 109 + 120 + 135 + 158 + 177 + 181 + 195.
Count the total number of data points (patients), which is 8.
Divide the calculated sum (1160) by the total count (8).
Compare your final calculated result (145) with the given options to select the correct one.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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