What is Arithmetic Mean?
The arithmetic mean, commonly known as the average, is the sum of all values divided by the count of values.
The arithmetic mean is the most commonly used measure of central tendency. It provides a single value that represents the 'center' of a dataset by giving equal weight to every data point.
It's best used when all values in your dataset are equally important and there are no extreme outliers that could skew the result. For data with outliers, consider using the median instead.
Arithmetic Mean Formula
The calculation is straightforward:
Simply add all the values together and divide by how many values there are. For example, the mean of 5, 10, and 15 is: (5 + 10 + 15) / 3 = 10.
When to Use Arithmetic Mean
The arithmetic mean is ideal for:
Test Scores
When all tests have equal importance, use arithmetic mean to find your average score.
Daily Measurements
Average temperature, daily steps, or other equally-weighted daily data points.
Quick Estimates
When you need a fast approximation of the 'typical' value in a dataset without complex weighting.
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