Mean, Median, Mode

Measures of Central
Tendency
Priscillas allowance is RM6 per week, and
she wants to ask her parents to increase
it. She surveyed other students in her
class to see how much they get for an
allowance. The results are shown below :

RM15, RM0, RM5, RM10, RM3, RM4,
RM10, RM6, RM5, RM10, RM0, RM6,
RM8, RM8, RM15
average
3 common ways to summarize the data
with a single number :
the mean, mode and median.
Mean
The mean of a set of data is the arithmetic
average
Adding the numbers in the data set and dividing
them by the number of items in the set
Mean = 15+0+5+10+3+4+10+6+5+10+0+6+8++8+15
15
= 105/15=7
The mean allowance is RM7 per week
Mode
The mode of a set of data is the number(s)
or item(s) that appear most often
A line plot of the survey results can quickly
give you the mode
0 9 10 11 12 13 5 7 6 8 2 3 4 1 14 15
The mode is RM10 because RM10 occurs most often
Median
The median is the middle number in a set
of data when the data are arranged in
numerical order
The median is RM6, the 8
th
data
Application
Darrells test scores for the first grading period
are graphed on the line plot. How might he use
the mean, mode or median of the data to
describe his scores to his parents ? Is this
statistic an accurate description ?
40 88 90 84 86 82 80 92
Hands-on activity
The average student in your class may
vary quite a bit from average student in
another class.
In this activity, you will find out what the
average student in your class is like.
Are you an average student in your class ?
1. List 10 questions you would like to ask your
classmates in order to describe what the average
student is like.
Eg :
What is your height in cm ?
What is your age in months?
How many children are there in your family ?
What is your favorite TV program ?
What is your hobby ?
What is your favorite food ?
What is shoe size ?
What is your weight ?
What is favorite number ?
What is your favorite subject ?

Prepare a survey with your ten questions.
Each student in the class should complete
the survey.
Divide into groups of two.
Each group should take one of the
questions and compile the data in
frequency table or line plot
Find the mean, mode and median for each
question.
Decide which one best describes each set
of data and justify your choices.
Compile the results of all the groups.
Choose an appropriate graph to display
your data.
Make a poster that describe the average
student in the class