The sum of absolute deviation is least when taken from

(a) mean

(b) median

(c) mode

(d) none of the above

Solution:

Minimum deviation from mean = ∑|X – mean|/n

Minimum deviation from median = ∑|X – median|/n

Minimum deviation from mode = ∑|X – mode|/n

Median > mean, and median > mode.

So mean deviation from median has the least value.