Mean, Median, and Mode
Ages 9–14Difficulty adapts to you
Mean, Median, and Mode
Mean, median, and mode describe data in different ways. Find the mean by dividing the total by the number of values. Find the median by ordering the data and locating the middle. The mode is the value or values that occur most often.
Your goals
- ✓You can find the average, middle value, and most common value.
- ✓You can use mean, median, mode correctly.
- ✓You can order the data before finding the median and count frequencies before finding the mode.
Words to know
- mean:
- The total of the values divided by the number of values.
- median:
- The middle value after the data are ordered.
- mode:
- The value or values occurring most often.
Examples
- 1For 2, 4, 4, 6, 8: mean = 24 ÷ 5 = 4.8, median = 4, and mode = 4.
- 2For 3, 7, 9: mean = 19/3 ≈ 6.3, median = 7, and there is no mode because no value repeats.
More than one way to solve it
Try each method, then choose the one you can explain and check most clearly.
Method 1
Total-and-share for mean
- 1.Add all values.
- 2.Count the values.
- 3.Divide the total by the count.
Example: 4, 7, 7, 10 total 28; 28 ÷ 4 gives a mean of 7.
Method 2
Balance-point method
- 1.Choose a central value.
- 2.Measure amounts above and below it.
- 3.Redistribute until balanced.
Example: 6, 7, 11 balance at 8 because the 3 above 8 offsets 2 and 1 below.
Check these
- • Do not divide the mean by the largest value instead of the number of values.
- • Keep every number, symbol, label, and unit in its correct place.
- • Choose the method that makes each step easiest to explain and check.
Helpful habits
- • Read the whole question before choosing what to do.
- • Show one clear step at a time and check each step.
- • If you are stuck, draw a model, try smaller numbers, or revisit the example.
Now try your own
Create your own mean, median, and mode example, solve it, and explain how you checked it.
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Helpful Hints“Try drawing a picture to help you see the answer.”