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Descriptive StatisticsMean, Median & Mode Engine

Average Calculator

Please provide numbers separated by a comma to calculate their arithmetic mean, median, mode, range, geometric mean, and step-by-step arithmetic solutions.

Quick Presets:
Average Result

Average (Mean) = 22.142857

Exact Fraction: 155/7
Step-by-Step Calculation Breakdown
Step 1: Count the total number of values in the dataset: n = 7.
Step 2: Calculate the sum of all values: Sum (∑) = 10 + 2 + 38 + 23 + 38 + 23 + 21 = 155.
Step 3: Divide the sum by the count: Average (x̄) = 155 ÷ 7 = 155/7 = 22.142857.
Summary Statistics Dashboard:
Count (n):
7
Sum (∑):
155
Median (x̃):
23
Range (Max - Min):
36
Mode:
23, 38 (Bimodal, each appears 2 times)
Geometric Mean:
16.412764
Harmonic Mean:
8.892196
Sorted Dataset (Ascending Order):
2, 10, 21, 23, 23, 38, 38

What is an Average in Mathematics & Statistics?

In mathematics, an average (most commonly referring to the arithmetic mean) represents the central value of a finite set of numbers. It is computed by summing all numeric observations and dividing by the total count of observations:

Mean (x̄) = (x₁ + x₂ + ... + xₙ) / n = (∑ x) / n

The 4 Main Types of Statistical Means

1. Arithmetic Mean

The standard average computed by adding all values and dividing by the count. Best for general symmetric datasets without extreme outliers.

2. Geometric Mean

The n-th root of the product of n numbers: (x₁ · x₂ · ... · xₙ)^(1/n). Ideal for calculating compound growth rates, investment returns, and exponential phenomena.

3. Harmonic Mean

The reciprocal of the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals: n / ∑(1/xᵢ). Specifically tailored for averaging rates, speeds over fixed distances, and unit ratios.

4. Weighted Average

Calculated by multiplying each value by a predetermined weight or importance percentage before summing and dividing by the total weight: ∑(wᵢ xᵢ) / ∑ wᵢ (e.g. GPA calculation).

Comparing Measures of Central Tendency

MeasureDefinitionBest Used ForSensitivity to Outliers
Mean (Average)Sum divided by total countSymmetric, bell-shaped distributionsHigh (heavily skewed by extreme values)
MedianThe middle value in an ordered setSkewed distributions (income, real estate prices)Robust (resistant to outliers)
ModeThe most frequent value in the datasetCategorical data and popularity analysisRobust (unaffected by extreme values)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate the average of a set of numbers?

Add all the numbers together to find the sum, then divide that sum by the count of numbers in the set. For example, for 10, 20, and 30: Sum = 60, Count = 3, Average = 60 ÷ 3 = 20.

Can the average be negative?

Yes. If the sum of the numbers in the dataset is negative (e.g. -10, -20, 15 ⟹ Sum = -15), the resulting mean will be negative (-15 ÷ 3 = -5).

What is the difference between sample and population standard deviation?

Population standard deviation divides the sum of squared deviations by $N$ (when you have the entire population), whereas sample standard deviation divides by $N - 1$ (Bessel's correction) to provide an unbiased estimate when sampling a subset.