Take five test scores: 85, 92, 78, 92, and 88.
| Measure |
What it is |
For these scores |
| Mean (average) |
Total ÷ how many |
435 ÷ 5 = 87 |
| Median |
The middle number in order (78, 85, 88, 92, 92) |
88 |
| Mode |
The number that appears most |
92 (twice) |
| Range |
Largest − smallest |
92 − 78 = 14 |
With an even count there’s no single middle number, so the median is the two middle numbers averaged: for 1, 2, 3, and 4 it’s 2.5.
Which one to use
The mean uses every number, so it’s the right choice for things that add up, like test scores or monthly spending. The median ignores how extreme the biggest and smallest values are, so it describes a “typical” value better when a few numbers are unusual. The mode is useful for things you count, like the most common shoe size.
Limits
Separate numbers with commas, spaces, semicolons, or new lines. Commas never mean thousands here: type 1250, not 1,250. Words and other text are left out, and the calculator lists what it skipped. Answers show up to 4 decimal places.
FAQs
How do I calculate the average of a list of numbers?
Add the numbers up and divide by how many there are. For 85, 92, 78, 92, and 88 the sum is 435, and 435 ÷ 5 = 87.
What's the difference between mean, median, and mode?
The mean is the usual average: the total divided by the count. The median is the middle number once they're in order. The mode is the number that appears most often. They answer different questions, so a list can have a mean of 87 and a mode of 92.
When is the median better than the average?
When a few numbers are far bigger or smaller than the rest. One very high house price pulls the mean up a lot but barely moves the median, which is why house prices and incomes are usually reported as medians.
What if there's no mode, or two of them?
If no number appears more than once, there's no mode. If two or more numbers tie for most common, they're all modes, and the calculator lists each one.
How do I average numbers like 1,250?
Leave out the comma and type 1250. Commas separate numbers here, so 1,250 would be read as two numbers, 1 and 250.
Can I do a weighted average?
Not on this page. For grades with weights, like homework 20% and exams 50%, use the grade calculator, which does weighted averages.
