Solve Problems Using the Mean

There are several different types of averages.

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

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

This group of children decides to measure their heights:

Example

Find the mean height of the children.

Answer

Step 1: Find the total height from the group:

136 + 129 + 133 + 125 + 131 + 126 = 780 cm

Step 2: Now divide the total by how many heights there are in the group, which is 6: 

780 ÷ 6 = 130 cm

The mean height of the group of children is 130 cm.

Let's have a go at answering some more questions about the mean.