In mathematics, the mean is a type of average that is obtained by dividing the sum of a set of numbers by the number of digits thereof. While the mean is not the only type of average, it is the average that most people think of. You can use the mean for everything in your daily life, from calculating the time it takes you to get home after work, to finding out the average amount of money you spend during the week.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Calculating the Mean
Step 1. Determine the set of numbers you want to average
These numbers can be large or small, and as many as desired. However, make sure that you use real numbers not variables.
Example: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Step 2. Add these numbers together to find the sum
You can use a calculator or Microsoft Excel or do the manual calculations if these calculations are simple.
Example: 2+3+4+5+6=20
Step 3. Count the number of numbers
If you have the same value in your set of numbers, all the values still count.
Example: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 add up to five
Step 4. Divide the sum by the number of digits
The result is the mean, or average of your set of numbers. This means that if each number is the mean, the sum of the mean will equal the sum of your original numbers.
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Example: 20 5 = 4
Thus, 4 is the mean of this set of numbers.
