There are several different types of averages.

An average is one number that represents a set of numbers.

The mean  is a  number which we calculate by adding up all the numbers in the set and dividing this total by how many numbers there are.

Example

Find the mean of this set of ten numbers:    5,  4,  8,  4,  3,  3,  8,  5,  1,  6

Answer

Step 1     Find the total of the set :   5 + 4 + 8 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 8 + 5 + 1 + 6 = 47

Step 2     Now divide the total by how many numbers in the set there are, which is 10:  47 ÷ 10 = 4.7

The mean is 4.7

That looks pretty simple, doesn't it?

Let's have a go at practising this in the questions.