Mean Calculator - Free Average Calculator Online

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What is the Mean?

The arithmetic mean, commonly called the “average,” is the sum of all values divided by the count of values. It’s the most widely used measure of central tendency in statistics.

Mean Formula

The formula for calculating the mean is:

x̄ = Σx / n

Where:

x̄ (pronounced “x-bar”) represents the mean
Σx represents the sum of all values
n represents the number of values

When to Use the Mean

The mean is most appropriate when:

Data is symmetrically distributed
There are no significant outliers
You want a measure that uses all data points

Limitations of the Mean

Be cautious when using the mean if your data:

Contains extreme outliers
Is heavily skewed
Is categorical in nature

In these cases, the median might be a better measure of central tendency.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mean of a set of numbers?

The mean (also called average) is calculated by adding all numbers together and dividing by how many numbers there are. For example, the mean of 2, 4, 6 is (2+4+6)/3 = 4.

What is the difference between mean and average?

Mean and average typically refer to the same thing: the arithmetic mean. However, “average” can sometimes refer to other types like median (middle value) or mode (most common value). When someone says “average,” they usually mean the arithmetic mean.

When should I use mean vs median?

Use the mean for symmetric data without outliers. Use the median when data is skewed or has extreme values. For example, median income is often used instead of mean income because a few very high incomes would inflate the mean.

How do I calculate weighted mean?

Weighted mean multiplies each value by its weight, sums those products, then divides by the sum of weights. Formula: Σ(value × weight) / Σ(weights). This is useful when some observations are more important than others.

What does a negative mean indicate?

A negative mean simply means the average of your data is below zero. This is common with temperature data, profit/loss figures, or any dataset where negative values make sense. There’s nothing unusual about a negative mean.