Calculating the Mean, Median, Mode and Range for simple data

The table below shows how to calculate the mean, median, mode and range for two
sets of data.
Set A contains the numbers 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8 and Set B contains the numbers 2, 3, 3, 4,
6, 7.

Set A Set B
Measure 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 7, 8 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 7
The Mean Adding the numbers up gives: Adding the numbers up gives:
To find the mean, you 2 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 8 = 32 2 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 7 = 25
need to add up all the There are 7 values, so you divide There are 6 values, so you divide
data, and then divide the total by 7: 32 ÷ 7 = 4.57... the total by 6: 25 ÷ 6 = 4.166...
this total by the number So the mean is 4.57 (2 d.p.) So the mean is 4.17 (2 d.p.)
of values in the data.
The Median The numbers in order: The numbers in order:
To find the median, you 2 , 2 , 3 , (5) , 5 , 7 , 8 2 , 3 , (3 , 4) , 6 , 7
need to put the values The middle value is marked in This time there are two values in
in order, then find the brackets, and it is 5. the middle. They have been put
middle value. If there are So the median is 5 in brackets. The median is found
two values in the middle by calculating the mean of these
then you find the mean two values: (3 + 4) ÷ 2 = 3.5
of these two values. So the median is 3.5
The Mode The data values: The data values:
The mode is the value 2,2,3,5,5,7,8 2,3,3,4,6,7
which appears the most The values which appear most This time there is only one value
often in the data. It is often are 2 and 5. They both which appears most often - the
possible to have more appear more time than any number 3. It appears more times
than one mode if there of the other data values. than any of the other data values.
is more than one value So the modes are 2 and 5 So the mode is 3
which appears the most.
The Range The data values: The data values:
To find the range, you 2 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 5 , 7 , 8 2,3,3,4,6,7
first need to find the The lowest value is 2 and the The lowest value is 2 and the
lowest and highest values highest value is 8. Subtracting highest value is 7. Subtracting
in the data. The range is the lowest from the highest the lowest from the highest
found by subtracting the gives: 8 - 2 = 6 gives: 7 - 2 = 5
lowest value from the So the range is 6 So the range is 5
highest value.