Mean, median, mode and range
In a nutshell
The mean, median, mode and range are used to compare and analyse data. They tell you information about a set of data such as the average or how big it is.
What are the mean, median, mode and range?
Sometimes the mean, median, mode and range are referred to as averages but each one has their own definition.
Definitions
Mean
| The average: the total of all the items added up ÷ the total number of items.
|
Median | The middle value. The position can be found by using 2n+1 where n is the number of values. (Note: The values MUST be in order from smallest to largest). |
Mode | The most common value. |
Range | The difference between the biggest and smallest |
Example
What is the mean, median, mode and range of the following set of numbers?
1,4,6,2,3,8,1,2,1,3
Mean:
the number of valuesall the values added up=101+4+6+2+3+8+1+2+1+3=1031=3.1
Median:
First, reorder the values.
1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,6,8
Find the position of the median.
2n+1=211=5.5
Note: Since the position of the median is 5.5, this means it sits in the middle of the fifth and sixth value. Add them together and divide by two to find the mean.
(2+3)÷2=2.5
Mode:
The most common number in the sequence.
1
Note: Sometimes there could be multiple modes if two values share the same frequency or no mode where all values are repeated the same number of times!
Range:
Take the smallest number away from the biggest number.
8−1=7