The Mean Calculator computes the arithmetic mean of a set of observations. In statistics, the mean is a measure of central tendency that summarizes a data set with one value based on the total of its observations.
Mean Formula
For values xβ through xβ, the arithmetic mean is xΜ = (xβ + xβ + ... + xβ) Γ· n. The numerator is the sum of all observations and n is the number of observations.
How to Calculate the Mean
- Enter all observations included in the data set.
- Add the values together.
- Divide the sum by the number of observations.
- Check the calculator result for the appropriate level of rounding.
Example
For 7, 9, 10, 14, and 15, the sum is 55 and there are five observations. The mean is therefore 11.
Mean and Data Interpretation
The mean is useful when every observation should contribute to the summary. It is sensitive to extreme values, so a very high or very low observation can noticeably change it. For a fuller statistical description, it can be considered alongside the median and measures of spread.