Mean, Median, Mode
Measure | Definition | How to Calculate | Example (Data: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | Use / When Useful | Effect of Extreme Values |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean | The average of all data values. | Add all values and divide by the total number of values. | (2+3+4+5+6)/5 = 4 | Best for data evenly distributed without extreme outliers. | Affected by extreme values (outliers). |
Median | The middle value when data is arranged in order. | Arrange values → pick the middle one (or average of two middle values if even number). | Middle value of 2,3,4,5,6 is 4 | Useful when data has outliers or is skewed. | Not affected by extreme values. |
Mode | The value that occurs most often. | Identify the value(s) that appear most frequently. | All occur once → no mode | Useful for categorical or repeated data (e.g., most common rating). | Not affected by extreme values. |
🔹 Quick Summary:
Mean = “Average” → sensitive to outliers.
Median = “Middle” → robust, better for skewed data.
Mode = “Most frequent” → good for identifying the most common value or category.