How Do You Calculate the Mean?

Calculating the mean (or average) is a straightforward way to find the central value of a dataset. Here’s how you do it:

1. Add the Numbers: Sum up all the values in your dataset. For example, if your numbers are 5, 10, and 15, their total is 30.
2. Count the Numbers: Determine how many values are in the dataset. In this example, there are 3 numbers.
3. Divide the Total by the Count: Divide the sum by the number of values. For our example: 30 ÷ 3 = 10.

So, the mean of 5, 10, and 15 is 10. The mean gives a quick snapshot of the overall tendency of the data.