Averages: meaning, definitions and examples

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averages

 

[ ˈævərɪdʒɪz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mathematical

An average is a single value that is meant to represent a set of numbers. There are several types of averages, including mean, median, and mode. The mean average is calculated by adding up all the numbers in a set and dividing by how many numbers there are. The median average is the middle number when the numbers are arranged in order. The mode average is the number that appears most frequently in a set.

Synonyms

mean, median, mode.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
mean

Mathematical context or scientific studies where precise terminology is required to describe the central tendency of a dataset.

  • The mean height of the participants was 165 cm.
  • Researchers found that the mean age of the sample was 30 years old.
median

Situations where the middle value of a dataset is needed, particularly in skewed distributions to avoid the influence of outliers.

  • The median income in the city is $50,000.
  • If you arrange the scores in ascending order, the median score is the one in the middle.
mode

Scenarios where identifying the most frequently occurring value in a dataset is important, such as in market analysis or consumer preference studies.

  • The mode of the survey responses is 'Yes'.
  • In the dataset of product sales, the mode was 100 units sold.

Examples of usage

  • The average of 2, 3, 5, and 7 is 4.25.
  • To find the average height of a class, you add up all the heights and divide by the number of students.
  • The average of 10, 20, and 30 is 20, which is the middle number.

Translations

Translations of the word "averages" in other languages:

🇵🇹 médias

🇮🇳 औसत

🇩🇪 Durchschnitte

🇮🇩 rata-rata

🇺🇦 середні показники

🇵🇱 średnie

🇯🇵 平均

🇫🇷 moyennes

🇪🇸 promedios

🇹🇷 ortalama

🇰🇷 평균

🇸🇦 متوسطات

🇨🇿 průměry

🇸🇰 priemery

🇨🇳 平均值

🇸🇮 povprečja

🇮🇸 meðaltöl

🇰🇿 орташа мәндер

🇬🇪 საშუალო მაჩვენებლები

🇦🇿 orta göstəricilər

🇲🇽 promedios

Etymology

The word 'average' originated from the French word 'avarie' in the late 18th century, which meant 'damage to goods on a voyage'. This evolved to mean 'equalizing a loss', and eventually came to represent a concept of a single value that represents a group of numbers. The mathematical concept of averages has been used for centuries to simplify and analyze data.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,505 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.