Statistics is one of the most fundamental branches of mathematics used to analyze, interpret, and present data in a meaningful way. Among its many tools, Mean, Median, and Mode are the three key measures of central tendency. They help us understand the central point or typical value in a data set making them vital in fields such as business, economics, engineering, and social sciences.
The Mean (or average) is calculated by adding all the data values and dividing by the number of values. For example, if the scores of five students are 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100, the mean score is (60 + 70 + 80 + 90 + 100) ÷ 5 = 80. The Median is the middle value when all numbers are arranged in order. For the same data, the median is 80. The Mode is the value that occurs most frequently. For instance, in the set {2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7, 9}, the mode is 7 because it appears most often.Each of these measures gives a unique perspective on data. While the mean is useful for evenly distributed data, the median is more reliable when there are extreme values or outliers. The mode helps in identifying the most common value, especially useful in categorical data such as surveys or product preferences. Understanding how and when to use Mean, Median, and Mode is crucial for effective data analysis.Document prepared by Hemanth, Team Macroedtech
