Content

• Steps
• Advice

In mathematics, a "mean" is a type of average calculated by dividing the sum of a set of numbers by the number of numbers in that set. While this is not the only average, it is what most people think about when it comes to the average. You can use averages for many useful everyday purposes from calculating the time you spend from home to work to determining how much you spend on average per week, and so on.

Steps

Method 1 of 1: Calculate Average Value

1. 

   Determine the set of numbers for which you want to average. These numbers can be large or small, and as many as you want. Just make sure you are using real numbers, not variables.
   • For example: 2,3,4,5,6.

2. 

   
   
   Add the numbers together to find their sum. You can use a calculator or excel sheet, or do the math if it's simple.
   • Example: 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 20.

3. 

   Count the number of digits in your set. If there are any repeats, you still have to count the number to determine the sum.
   • For example: 2,3,4,5, and 6 total has 5 numbers.

4. 

   
   
   Divide the sum by the number of digits. The result is the mean of the population you have. That means that if each number in your set is equal to the mean, then their sum will be the sum of the whole sequence.
   • Example: 20: 5 = 4
     So 4 is the general average of the numbers.
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Advice

• Other mediums include "mode" and "median". Mode is the value that occurs most often in a population. Median is the middle value in a set of elements. These means will often produce results that differ from the mean for the same population.