Summarize a list of numbers with central tendency and simple spread measures.
Overview
Descriptive statistics start with four friendly summaries: mean (average), median (middle), mode (most frequent), and range (max minus min). Together they sketch a dataset before deeper analysis.
Mean uses every value, so outliers pull it strongly. Median resists outliers by sorting and taking the middle. Mode helps categorical or discrete peaks, such as the most common test score.
Range is a quick spread measure but ignores how data cluster between extremes. Pair range with standard deviation when decisions depend on variability, not only endpoints.
Report which summaries you used. Real estate listings emphasize median home price when a few mansions skew the mean. Retail inventory might care about mode size sold.
Steps
Type or paste all values.
Tool orders data for median and mode.
Sum divided by count.
Middle value or average of two middles.
Most frequent value(s).
Maximum minus minimum.
Math
Mean = Σx/n; Range = max − min; Median = middle of sorted list
Mean balances all observations. Median splits sorted data. Mode counts frequencies. Range spans extremes only.
Worked cases
Mean=34/5=6.8; median=5; mode=5; range=9
Mean 6.8, median 5, mode 5, range 9.
Median = (4+8)/2
Median = 6.
Mean pulled high; median near 11.5
Median often better center for skewed data.
Why use this
Questions