Findings from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ National Household Travel Survey revealed that more than 405 million long-distance business trips are taken each year in the United States. Over 80% of these business trips are taken by personal vehicle. Almost three out of four business trips are for less than 250 miles, and only about 7% are for more than 1000 miles. The mean one-way distance for a business trip in the United States is about 123 miles. Air travel accounts for 16% of all business travel. The maximum per diem cost of business travel to New York City is about $523, to Beijing is about $346, to Moscow is about $463, and to Paris is about $580. Seventy-seven percent of all business travelers are men, and 55% of business trips are taken by people in the 30- to 49-year-old age bracket. Forty-five percent of business trips are taken by people who have a household income of more than $75,000.

Questions:

1. In light of the fact that 7% of business trips are for more than 1000 miles, why is the mean distance 123 miles? How do the 1000+ mile trips impact the mean?
2. It is reported here that the average per diem cost of business travel to New York City is about $523. Would the median or even the mode be more representative here? How might a measure of variability add insight?