Mean, Median, and Mode
The mean is the average, the median is the middle of a sorted list, and the mode is the most common value.
Which one should you use?
Use the mean for symmetric data without extreme outliers. Use the median for skewed data. Use the mode for categorical data or for the most typical category.
Step-by-step method
- Mean: sum divided by count.
- Median: sort, then take the middle.
- Mode: count frequencies.
Example
2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9
- Mean 5
- Median 4.5
- Mode 4
Answer: mean 5, median 4.5, mode 4
Interactive example
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Example problems
Common mistakes
Reporting unsorted “median”
Always sort before picking the middle.
Related formulas
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Frequently asked questions
Can there be more than one mode?
Yes. A data set can be bimodal or have no mode if all frequencies are 1.