What Is Mean Mode?
The mean is the sum of the values divided by how many there are. The mode is the value that occurs most often. Together they describe the centre and the most typical value of a data set.
Enter your numbers to get the mean, the mode or modes, the median for comparison and the number of distinct values. The calculator labels data as unimodal, bimodal, multimodal or as having no mode, and draws a frequency chart with the mode highlighted.
Below you will find the formulas, a worked example with two modes and answers on when to prefer the mode over the mean.
How to Use the Mean Mode Calculator
- Enter your numbers.
- Read the mean and the mode or modes.
- Check the frequency table.
- Compare with the median.
Mean Mode Formula
Mean
Mode
Mean Mode Variables Explained
| Symbol | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| x̄ | Mean | |
| n | Number of values | |
| f | Frequency of a value | |
| mode | Value with the highest frequency |
Mean Mode Worked Example
For 3, 5, 7, 5, 9, 5, 2, 7, 8, 7: the sum is 58 and n = 10, so the mean is 5.8. The value 5 occurs 3 times and 7 occurs 3 times, so the data are bimodal with modes 5 and 7.
With the example values loaded in the calculator above, the steps are:
- Mean = Σx ÷ n = 58 ÷ 10 = 5.8.
- Mode = the value that occurs most often. Most frequent: 5, 7, 3 times.
- Median = 6, shown for comparison.
Result: Mean = 5.8; Modes = 5, 7.
How to Read the Mean and Mode
The mean is the arithmetic average and the mode is the most frequent value. For 3, 5, 7, 5, 9, 5, 2, 7, 8, 7 the sum is 58, so the mean is 5.8. The values 5 and 7 each occur three times, so the data are bimodal.
When the mean and mode are far apart, the data are probably skewed. The mode shows what is most common, which suits categories and repeated values. The mean uses every value, which suits symmetric data.
Where Mean Mode Is Used
Finding repeats
See which values occur most often in a list.
Multiple modes
Find several modes when values tie.
Skew check
Compare the mean and mode to see which way the data lean.
Homework
Check a mean and mode together.
Common Mean Mode Mistakes to Avoid
- A data set can have one mode, several modes or none.
- If every value occurs once, there is no mode.
- The mode works for categories, but the mean does not.
- Check the count n first. A missing value changes the mean.
Mean Mode Terms and Definitions
- Mode
- The value that occurs most often.
- Bimodal
- Having two modes.
Mean Mode FAQs
How do you find the mean and mode?
Add the values and divide by the count for the mean. Count how often each value occurs for the mode. For 3, 5, 7, 5, 9, 5, 2, 7, 8, 7 the mean is 5.8 and the modes are 5 and 7.
Can there be more than one mode?
Yes. When two or more values tie for the highest count, all of them are modes. Two modes is called bimodal.
Can there be no mode?
Yes. If every value appears the same number of times, usually once, there is no mode.
Which is better, mean or mode?
It depends. The mean uses all the data and suits symmetric numeric data. The mode shows the most common value and suits categories or data with repeated values.