Question

Before raw data can be used as scientific evidence, it must be analyzed and summarized. One way of summarizing data is to find the mean, or average, of a set of data points. What method is used for calculating the mean?

Answer 1

To calculate the mean, you add up all of the data values, and then divide that sum by the *number* of values.

For instance, if you wanted to find the mean score at a home run derby, and you’re given the following numbers for home runs scored by each player:

5, 4, 6, 5, 3, 1

You could calculate the mean by adding all of the score up

5 + 4 + 6 + 5 + 3 + 1 = 24

And dividing by the number of hitters (in this case, 6)

24 / 6 = 4

So the *mean score* of the home run derby would be 4.