To find the mean (average) of a set of data, follow these steps:
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Sum all the data points: Add together all the values in your dataset.
\[ \text{Sum} = x_1 + x_2 + x_3 + \ldots + x_n \]
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Count the number of data points: Determine how many values (n) are in your dataset.
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Divide the sum by the number of data points: Use the formula for the mean, which is:
\[ \text{Mean} = \frac{\text{Sum of all data points}}{\text{Number of data points}} = \frac{S}{n} \]
Example:
Suppose you have the following data points: 3, 5, 7, 9.
- Sum: \( 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 24 \)
- Count: There are 4 data points (3, 5, 7, 9).
- Mean: \( \text{Mean} = \frac{24}{4} = 6 \)
So, the mean of the dataset is 6.