Mean, Median, Mode

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Aptitude Test
Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation
Module – 6 : Mean, Median, Mode MEDIAN
Median of a set of numbers (or data or values or observation) is
the middle most number (or data or value or observation) in a
MEAN, MEDIAN, MODE set of numbers, when the numbers are arranged either in
Mean, median and mode are the three measures of central tendency ascending or in descending order of their magnitude.
of the data. Method to find the median
When the numbers (or data) is arranged in ascending or
MEAN descending order, then median is calculated as follows:
Mean is actually the average. An average of a group of numbers (i) When the number of data (n) is odd, then the median is the
(or data or values or observations) is a number that is the best th
n +1
representative of the group of numbers because it tells a lot about value of the data.
the entire numbers of the group. 2
(ii) When the number of data (n) is even, then the median is
Sum of all numbers
Mean of a group of numbers = Number of numbers th
n th n
the mean of and 1 data.
Thus if A is the mean of n numbers a1, a2, a3, ..., an; then 2 2
a1 + a 2 + a 3 + ... + a n th th
A=
n i.e. median = 1 n data + n +1 data
2 2 2
a1 + a 2 + a 3 + ... + a n A.n
Hence, Sum of numbers = (Number of numbers) × (Average) Illustration – 1
For example, average of 6 to 10 natural numbers
The monthly salaries (in `) of 10 employees of a factory are:
6 + 7 + 8 + 9 +10 40 12000, 8500, 9200, 7400, 11300, 12700, 7800, 11500, 10320,
= = =8
5 5 8100. Find the median salary.
Solution:
Some Important Results About Mean Arranging the observation in ascending order:
(i) If each observation is increased by ‘a’, then the mean is 7400, 7800, 8100, 8500, 9200, 10320, 11300, 11500, 12000,
also increased by ‘a’. If x is the mean of n observations x1, 12700
x2, ...., xn, then the mean of observations (x1 + a), (x2 + a), Total number of observations (n) = 10 (even)
(x3 + a), ...., (xn + a) is ( x + a). th th
1 n n
(ii) If each observation is decreased by ‘a’, then the mean is median observation 1 observation
2 2 2
also decreased by ‘a’. If x is the mean of n observations
x1, x2, ...., xn, then mean of observations (x1 – a), (x2 – a), th th
...., (xn – a) is ( x – a). 1 10 10
observation 1 observation
(iii) If each observation is multiplied by a non-zero number ‘a’, 2 2 2
Then, mean is also multiplied by ‘a’.
1 th
If x is mean of n observations x1, x2, ...., xn, then mean of 5 observation 6th observation
2
ax1, ax2, ....., axn is a. x .
1 19520
(iv) If each observation is divided by a non-zero number ‘a’, Median 9200 10320 9760
then, mean is also divided by the non-zero number ‘a’. 2 2
Median Salary = ` 9760
If x is mean of n observations x1, x2, ...., xn, then the mean
x x xn
MODE
x
of 1 , 2 , ..... , is .
a a a a The mode of a group of numbers (or data or observations) is that
number (or data or observation) which occurs most frequently
i.e. which comes maximum number of times.
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Illustration – 2 (i) Data skewed to the Left
(ii) Data skewed to the Right
Find the value of mode of the following data
50, 70, 50, 70, 80, 70, 70, 80, 70, 50
Solution: DATA SKEWED TO THE LEFT
To find mode, we prepare ungrouped (or discrete) frequency table. If in a distribution of data 5 is given once, 6 is given twice, 7 is
given thrice, 8 is given four times, 9 is given seven times and 10
Observation Frequency is given eight times, then its bar graph will be as shown below.
50 3
70 5
80 2 8
7
In the above table we see that observation 70 is repeating 6
maximum number of times i.e. frequency of 70 is maximum. 5
Hence the mode of the given set of observation is 70. 4
Relationship Between Mean, Mode and Median 3

Mode = 3 Median – 2 Mean 2

1
Illustration – 3
If the value of mode and mean is 60 and 66 respectively, 5 6 7 8 9 10
then find the value of median.
Solution:
Mean = 8.52
Mode = 3 Median – 2 Mean Median = 9
Mode = 10
1 1 The bar graph above is an illustration of a special kind of data
Median mode + 2 mean 60 2 66 64
3 3 distribution. The distribution has the property that in every case,
as the values increases, the frequencies increases as well. This
SYMMETRICALLY (OR NORMALLY) means that on the bar graph, the columns get taller as we look
DISTRIBUTED DATA from left to right. Such type of distribution of data is called
skewed to the left.
If we represent the given data through bar graph, and the left Here we see that the mode (10) is the greatest of the three measures
side of this bar graph is the mirror image of its right side. Then of central tendency, the mean (8.52) the least of the three measures
the data is called symmetrically (or Normally) distributed data. of central tendency, and the median (9) is in between. This illustrates
PLACEMENT TEST SCORES a typical property of data which is skewed to the left.
Hence for the distribution of data to be skewed to the left,
Mean<Median<Mode

DATA SKEWED TO THE RIGHT

If a distribution of data are repersented by the bar graph in which
as values increases, the frequencies decreases as well. that is if in
the bar graph, the columns get shorter as we look from left to
right, then the distribution of data is called skewed to the right.
2 3 4 5 6

mean = 4 mode = 4
median = 4
Mean, median and mode of a symmetrically distributed data are always
same. This is the typical property of symmetric distribution of data.
i.e. for a symmetrically distributed data,
Mean=Median=Mode

SKEWED DISTRIBUTION OF DATA

The distribution of data which is not symmetric is called skewed Hence for the distribution of data to be skewed to the right
distribution of data. Mean>Median>Mode
Skewed distribution of data are of two types: Note: there may be exceptions of this trend
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SUMMARY
Typical Relationships Between Mean, Median and Mode
For Three Special Distributions