What does the Mean mean in Math?
The Mean in Mathematics is just another word for Average.
Mathematician denote the Mean using the symbol ̄x̄.
The Mean is found by adding up the given Numbers divided by the Number of Numbers given.
As a Formula:
̄x̄ = Sum of given Numbers / Number of Numbers = (x1+x2+x3+..+xn)/(n)
Example: We are given 2,4,9. Then, ̄x̄ = (2+4+9)/3 = 15/3 = 5
The Mean is one of 3 common ways to describe the center of a set of numbers besides the Median and the Mode.
For Instance, if 3 boys weigh 100, 110 and 150 pounds, then on Average (aka their Mean Weight) they weigh 360/3=120 Pounds. The 120 pounds can be seen as a representation of the weight of the 3 boys.
Notice that the Mean uses each boy’s weight. So if only boy is extra light or extra heavy it will have a significant impact on the Mean. On the contrary, the Median (described below) is designed to not get affected by unusual weights.
What does Median mean in Math?
The Median is the Center in a sorted list of Numbers. In case of an odd number of numbers there will be a single center number. In case of an even number of numbers in the list the Median equals the average of the 2 center numbers.
1. Example: We are given 4,9,2. First we have to sort the list to get 2,4,9 . The Median is 2 because it is in the Center of this sorted list. We have an odd (3) numbers in our list.
2. Example: We are given 6,4,9,2. First we have to sort the list to get 2,4,6,9 . This list has an even number of numbers. Thus, the Median is 5 as the average of 4 and 6.
For Instance, if 3 boys weigh 100, 110 and 150 pounds, then their Median Weight is 110 Pounds.
The 110 pounds can be seen as a representation of the weight of the 3 boys.
Notice that the Median does not get affected by unusual weights.