The mean in math is a measure of central tendency that represents the average value of a set of numbers. It is found by adding all the numbers together and then dividing the sum by the total count of numbers in the set. This gives a value that is intermediate to the extremes of the data and represents a typical value of the collection
. The most common type of mean is the arithmetic mean , often simply called the average. For example, the arithmetic mean of the numbers 6, 11, and 7 is calculated as:
6+11+73=243=8\frac{6+11+7}{3}=\frac{24}{3}=836+11+7=324=8
So, the mean is 8
. There are other types of means as well, including:
- Geometric mean : useful for sets of positive numbers, especially when dealing with rates of growth.
- Harmonic mean : useful for quantities like speed or rates, where the average of rates is needed
In summary, the mean is a way to summarize a data set by finding a single value that best represents the entire set, typically calculated as the sum of values divided by the number of values
