Mean
The mean is the equal share of values across a set of data, also known as an average.
To solve for the mean:
1. Add up all of the values.
2. Divide by the number of values in the set.
Example:
Tammy is wondering what her final average for the year will be if her semester grades are: 74, 88, 91, 77, 69, 83.
1. 74 + 88 + 91 + 77 + 69 + 83 = 482
2. 483 / 6 = 80. 33
Tammy's final average for the year will be an 80.
To solve for the mean:
1. Add up all of the values.
2. Divide by the number of values in the set.
Example:
Tammy is wondering what her final average for the year will be if her semester grades are: 74, 88, 91, 77, 69, 83.
1. 74 + 88 + 91 + 77 + 69 + 83 = 482
2. 483 / 6 = 80. 33
Tammy's final average for the year will be an 80.
Median
The median is the middle value in a set of numbers ordered from least to greatest. It gives you an idea about where the center of a set of values is.
To solve for the median:
1. Put the data set in numerical order from least to greatest.
2. Find the middle value by crossing off numbers in pairs from the beginning and end of the set until you reach the middle.
Example:
What is the median of the following set of numbers: 12, 8, 15, 13, 7, 9, 14
1. Put the set of values in numerical order from least to greatest. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15
2. Cross out numbers in pairs, from the beginning and the end, until you reach the middle:
To solve for the median:
1. Put the data set in numerical order from least to greatest.
2. Find the middle value by crossing off numbers in pairs from the beginning and end of the set until you reach the middle.
Example:
What is the median of the following set of numbers: 12, 8, 15, 13, 7, 9, 14
1. Put the set of values in numerical order from least to greatest. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15
2. Cross out numbers in pairs, from the beginning and the end, until you reach the middle:
12 is your median.
However, if you are given a set of data with an even amount of values, the median will end up being in the middle of 2 numbers. Find the middle of those two numbers by adding them together and dividing by 2.
However, if you are given a set of data with an even amount of values, the median will end up being in the middle of 2 numbers. Find the middle of those two numbers by adding them together and dividing by 2.
Mode
The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a set.
To solve for mode:
1. Put the values in numberical order.
2. Which value occurs the most times in a row?
Example: 6, 7, 3, 5, 4, 6, 8, 6, 2, 3
1. Put the values in numerical order: 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8
2. The number 6 occurs 3 times in a row, more than any other value, so 6 is the mode for this set of data.
Every set of data may not have a mode. If each data value occurs the same number of times, or if more than one value occurs the same number of time, then there is not a mode for that set of data.
To solve for mode:
1. Put the values in numberical order.
2. Which value occurs the most times in a row?
Example: 6, 7, 3, 5, 4, 6, 8, 6, 2, 3
1. Put the values in numerical order: 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8
2. The number 6 occurs 3 times in a row, more than any other value, so 6 is the mode for this set of data.
Every set of data may not have a mode. If each data value occurs the same number of times, or if more than one value occurs the same number of time, then there is not a mode for that set of data.
Range
The range how wide the values in a set of data are. This means how far the data varies from the lowest to the highest value of data.
To solve for the range:
1. Find the highest value in the set.
2. Find the lowest value in the set.
3. Subtract the lowest value from the highest value.
Example: 68, 45, 31, 54, 71, 63
1. Find the highest value in the set: 71
2. Find the lowest value in the set: 31
3. Subtract the lowest value from the highest value.
71
-31
40
The range for this set of data is 40.
To solve for the range:
1. Find the highest value in the set.
2. Find the lowest value in the set.
3. Subtract the lowest value from the highest value.
Example: 68, 45, 31, 54, 71, 63
1. Find the highest value in the set: 71
2. Find the lowest value in the set: 31
3. Subtract the lowest value from the highest value.
71
-31
40
The range for this set of data is 40.