Average Calculator
Calculate mean, median, mode, and range of numbers
How to Use
- Enter your numbers separated by spaces, commas, or line breaks
- Click calculate to see all statistics
- View mean, median, mode, range, sum, and count
- Use the sorted list for reference
What is an Average?
An average is a single number that represents the central or typical value in a set of data. There are different types of averages, each useful in different situations.
The most common types are mean, median, and mode, collectively known as measures of central tendency.
Types of Averages
Mean (Arithmetic Average)
Definition: The sum of all numbers divided by the count of numbers.
Formula: Mean = (Sum of all values) ÷ (Number of values)
Example: Mean of 2, 4, 6, 8 = (2+4+6+8) ÷ 4 = 20 ÷ 4 = 5
Median
Definition: The middle value when numbers are arranged in order.
How to find: Sort the numbers. If odd count, take the middle number. If even count, average the two middle numbers.
Example: Median of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 = 5 (middle value)
Mode
Definition: The number(s) that appear most frequently.
Note: A dataset can have no mode (all values appear once), one mode (unimodal), or multiple modes (bimodal, multimodal).
Example: Mode of 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5 = 4 (appears most often)
When to Use Each Type
- Use Mean when: Data is evenly distributed without extreme outliers (e.g., test scores, heights)
- Use Median when: Data has outliers or is skewed (e.g., house prices, incomes)
- Use Mode when: Looking for the most common value (e.g., shoe sizes, favorite colors)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between mean and median?
- Mean is the sum divided by count, while median is the middle value. Median is less affected by extreme values (outliers), making it better for skewed data like income or house prices.
- Can a dataset have more than one mode?
- Yes. If two values appear most frequently, it's bimodal. If three or more values tie for most frequent, it's multimodal. If all values appear once, there's no mode.
- What is range and why is it useful?
- Range is the difference between the highest and lowest values. It gives a quick sense of how spread out the data is, though it's sensitive to outliers.
- How do I calculate the average of percentages?
- For simple percentages, calculate the mean as usual. However, if percentages represent different sample sizes, you may need a weighted average instead.