What is the Mean?
The mean, often referred to as the average, is a measure of central tendency. It is calculated by summing all the numbers in a data set and then dividing by the total count of numbers. This method provides a balance point for the data set.
Formula
The formula to calculate the mean is as follows:
Mean (μ) = (ΣX) / N
Where:
- ΣX is the sum of all data points
- N is the number of data points
Example Calculation
Consider the data set: 4, 8, 6, 5, 3. To find the mean:
- Sum of data points (ΣX) = 4 + 8 + 6 + 5 + 3 = 26
- Number of data points (N) = 5
- Mean (μ) = 26 / 5 = 5.2
Try it Yourself!
