Finding the Mean

Christine Crisp Edited by The IFY Maths Team

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Finding the Mean

The arithmetic mean of a set of numbers is the average. We refer to it simply as the mean. e.g. Find the mean of the numbers 7, 11, 4, 9, 4 Solution:
7 11 4 9 4 mean 7 5

As a formula, we write: mean,

n is the Greek capital letter S and stands for Sum

sigma x divided by n

x x

It is read as sigma, so the formula is ( The s um of the x values divided by the n umber of xs. )

Finding the Mean

Adapting the Formula

e.g. Find the mean of the following data:

x
Frequency, f

We still need to add up the x values and divide by the number of xs. However, we have more than one of each x value. The frequencies show we have 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3
111 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 so, mean, 10 n 31 5 2 2 3 More simply, x 10 fx xf This is written as x or f f

x x

Finding the Mean

x
Frequency, f
mean,

3
or

fx x f

xf f

Some of you have textbooks using the 1st of these ways of writing the formula and others the 2nd.

Im going to use the 2nd for 2 reasons:

x comes first in the tables so xf is in a logical order,

this order should avoid a common error in another formula that we will meet soon. xf 1 3 2 5 3 2 So, mean, x 1 9 10 f

Finding the Mean

Using a Calculator Its really important to use your calculator efficiently, particularly in Statistics.

Suppose we have the following data:

x f

12 5

16 8

18 9

22 6

27 2

mean,

xf x f

Instead of using the calculator to multiply each x by f, we enter the data as lists or cards ( depending on which calculator we have ). You will need the Statistics option. Try this now with the above data.

Finding the Mean

Using a Calculator Its really important to use your calculator efficiently, particularly in Statistics.

Suppose we have the following data:

x f

12 5

16 8

18 9

22 6

27 2

mean,

xf x f

Now go back through the data to check that you have entered the correct numbers before continuing. This is tedious but essential ( every time )!
Next select the menu that shows the results and you will find x and other results we will use later. We get x 17 9 ( 3 s.f. ) ( We usually give answers to 3 s.f. )

Finding the Mean

Mean of Grouped Data e.g. The data gives travel times to school for a sample of Canadian children. Find the mean travelling time.
Time (mins) No. of children 1-10 3531 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 2129 994 292 433 193 61 111

Source: CensusAtSchool, Canada 2003/4

mean,

xf x f

where x is the time (mins) and f is the number of children ( the frequency ).

For grouped data, the group mid-values are used for x.

Finding the Mean

Mean of Grouped Data e.g. The data gives travel times to school for a sample of Canadian children. Find the mean travelling time.
Time (mins)

x
No. of children

1-10 5 5 3531

11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61 15 5 25 5 35 5 45 5 55 5 2129 994 292 433 193 111

mean,

xf x f

where x is the time (mins) and f is the number of children ( the frequency ).

For grouped data, the group mid-values are used for x. To find these just average the upper and lower values 1 10 11 20 given for each group. e.g. 5 5, 15 5, . . . 2 2

Finding the Mean

Mean of Grouped Data e.g. The data gives travel times to school for a sample of Canadian children. Find the mean travelling time.
Time (mins)

x
No. of children

1-10 5 5 3531

11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61 15 5 25 5 35 5 45 5 55 5 70 5 2129 994 292 433 193 111

mean,

xf x f

where x is the time (mins) and f is the number of children ( the frequency ).

As we are not given the longest time we must make a sensible assumption. Ive chosen 80 mins. ( giving 705 for the mid-value ).

Finding the Mean

Mean of Grouped Data e.g. The data gives travel times to school for a sample of Canadian children. Find the mean travelling time.
Time (mins)

x
No. of children

1-10 5 5 3531

11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61 15 5 25 5 35 5 45 5 55 5 70 5 2129 994 292 433 193 111

where x is the time (mins) mean, and f is the number of children ( the frequency ). We can now enter the data into our calculators and find the mean.
mean, x 16 4 mins ( 3 s.f.)

xf x f

Finding the Mean

SUMMARY Finding the Mean: For simple data

x x

For frequency data

xf x f

For grouped data use the frequency data formula, taking each x to be the mid-point of the group. ( Remember that for ages, the group boundaries are not the same as with other data. )

Calculator use: Enter x and f values and use statistical functions to find the answer.
Unless told otherwise, answers are given to 3 s.f.

Finding the Mean

Exercise
Find the mean of each data set shown:

1.
2.

5, 11, 14, 7, 13
x f 1 1 2 8 3 13 4 17 5 10 11-20 7 10-19 25 6 11 21-30 13 20-59 16 31-40 17 60-99 9

3.

Length (cm) f

1-10 4 0-9 11

4.

Age (years) f

Finding the Mean

Solutions:
1.

5, 11, 14, 7, 13

Solution: 2.

x x 10 n

x f

1 1

2 8

3 13
4

4 17

5 10

6 11

Solution:

xf x f

Finding the Mean

3.

Length (cm) x f

1-10 55

11-20 155

21-30 255

31-40 355

13

17

Solution: 4.

xf x f

26 0 ( 3 s.f. )

Age (years) x f

0-9 5 11

10-19 15 25

20-59 40 16

60-99 80 9

N.B. Age data so the u.c.bs. are 10, 20, . . . making the mid-points 5, 15, . . . xf x 29 3 ( 3 d . p. ) f