Q1: How do I calculate the average (mean) of numbers?
To calculate the average, add all numbers together and divide by the count of numbers. Formula: Average = Sum of all numbers / Number of values. For example, the average of 10, 20, 30 is (10+20+30)/3 = 20.
Q2: What is the difference between mean, median, and mode?
Mean (average) is the sum divided by count. Median is the middle value when numbers are sorted. Mode is the most frequently occurring value. Each measure provides different insights about a dataset.
Q3: How do I handle negative numbers in average calculation?
Negative numbers are included in the calculation the same way as positive numbers. Add them to the sum (they reduce the total) and divide by the count. For example, average of 10, -5, 15 is (10-5+15)/3 = 6.67.
Q4: What if some values are zero?
Zero values are included in the count but don't contribute to the sum. For example, average of 10, 0, 20 is (10+0+20)/3 = 10. Including zeros can lower the average compared to excluding them.
Q5: How do I calculate weighted average?
Weighted average multiplies each value by its weight, sums those products, then divides by the sum of weights. Formula: Weighted Average = Σ(Value × Weight) / Σ(Weights). This is different from simple average.
Q6: When should I use average vs other measures?
Use average (mean) for normally distributed data without extreme outliers. Use median when outliers might skew results. Use mode for categorical data or finding the most common value. Choose based on your data characteristics.