Mean, median and mode
Mean = Sum of the values ÷ Number of values
Median = Middle value when sorted (average of the two middle values if the count is even)
Mode = Value that appears most often
Range = Largest − Smallest
Example: for 4, 8, 6, 5, 3, 8 the sum is 34 and there are 6 numbers, so the mean is 34 ÷ 6 = 5.67. Sorted, they are 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8, so the median is the average of 5 and 6, which is 5.5. The mode is 8, and the range is 8 − 3 = 5.
Which average should I use?
- Mean uses every value, so it's best when values are spread evenly, like test scores.
- Median ignores extremes, so it's better for skewed data like house prices or incomes, where a few very large values pull the mean up.
- Mode suits categories or repeated values, like the most common shoe size.
For a weighted average, where some values count more, use the grade calculator. To see how spread out the numbers are, use the standard deviation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the average of numbers?
Add them up and divide by how many there are. The average of 10, 20 and 30 is 60 ÷ 3 = 20.
What if there are two modes?
The data is bimodal and both values are modes. If every value appears once, there is no mode.
Is the median the same as the average?
"Average" usually means the mean. The median is the middle value, and the two can differ a lot when the data has extreme values.
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