mean

Home > ... > Science and Technology > Mathematics > Mathematics > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side A Dictionary of Nursing World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

mean

mean in statistics, a type of average . The arithmetic mean of a group of numbers is found by dividing their sum by the number of members in the group; e.g., the sum of the seven numbers 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, and 19 is 70 so their mean is 70 divided by 7, or 10. Less often used is the geometric mean (for two quantities, the square root of their product; for n quantities, the n th root of their product).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"mean." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"mean." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-mean.html

"mean." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-mean.html

Learn more about citation styles

mean

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

mean (arithmetic mean) Mathematical average. It is found by adding a group of numbers and dividing by the number of items in the group. Thus, for numbers a, b, c., and d, the mean is (a + b + c. + d)/4.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"mean." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"mean." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-mean.html

"mean." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-mean.html

Learn more about citation styles

mean

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Â© A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

mean (arithmetic mean) (meen) n. the average of a group of observations calculated by adding their values and dividing by the number in the group. See also median, mode.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"mean." A Dictionary of Nursing. Oxford University Press. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"mean." A Dictionary of Nursing. Oxford University Press. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-mean.html

"mean." A Dictionary of Nursing. Oxford University Press. 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-mean.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Airline News - Asia / Pacific. Magazine article from: Airguide Online; 10/12/2009
	Travel Technology News. Magazine article from: Airguide Online; 9/7/2009
	It's shop 'til you drop at Women's Night Out; Annual event helps food bank. Newspaper article from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA); 11/5/2009

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI DELIVERS REMARKS TO THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 9/23/2009; 700+ words ; ...not accept it and we do not acknowledge it, neither do we recognize it. The charter states that we -- in the preamble, I mean -- that we should not resort to military force unless it is a common interest. This is the preamble which we were happy and...
	SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL HOLDS A BACKGROUND BRIEFING VIA TELECONFERENCE ON BURMA Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 9/23/2009; 700+ words ; ...have not produced the results we would like, but that does not mean they don't have value. And also dialogue, as well as continuing...dramatic, immediate results. This is a problem in Burma. I mean, the military's been in power since 1962. We have been working...
	REP. STEVE COHEN CHAIRMAN REP. STEVE COHEN HOLDS A HEARING ON DISCHARGING EDUCATIONAL DEBT Transcript from: Washington Transcript Service; 9/23/2009; 700+ words ; ...merit portion and a need-based portion. Given this history of championing access to higher education of students of modest means, I view with concern the great increase in the number of private student loans issued over the last decade. Ostensibly, these...
	Pinheads & Patriots: Guinness Record Breakers, Dalai Lama Transcript from: The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News Network); 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...to opine. Here's the word of the day. When writing to us please do not be diabolical. Now, you think you know what that means, don't you? You think you know. But you really don't. You've got to look it up. Don't be diabolical when writing...
	Obama Calls For 'New Era' Of U.S. Foreign Policy Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...cycle of insecurity and despair, all of us must say publicly what we would acknowledge in private. WERTHEIMER: What does that mean, Don? What is he talking about? GONYEA: Well, too often, too often there are these behind-closed-doors discussions...
	Some U.S. Scholars Skip Talks With Iran's Leader Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...knows several Iranians jailed in the wake of disputed elections in June. Prof. SICK: So I could go and say that to him. I mean, that would be one possibility, but I've done that. I've done that several times now, and in each case, not only was...
	Serena Williams Puts Emotion Into Game, Memoir Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...passionate a person. And like I said, I mean, when you see me play, you always see...grow from this experience. What do you mean? What will you learn? Ms. WILLIAMS...will learn how to deal with situations. I mean, just so you know, this isn't the first...
	U.S. Navy Sailors Say They Were Hazed, Abused Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...Unidentified Woman: Well, it's supposed to be this tight unit, and we're supposed to be a family. And when you get into it, I mean, the enemy's not outside the line, the enemy's within. Your enemy is your chain of command. KRANTZ: Finally, in 2006...
	Gadhafi Unleashes Litany Of Complaints In U.N. Debut Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...Mohamed Eljahmi(ph), says emotions are running high. Mr. MOHAMED ELJAHMI: This is a mass murderer - killed Americans. I mean, you know, to come and set up shop and set his tent, he's rubbing salt to the American wounds. That is one thing. He...
	U.S. Sees Record Decline In Foreign-Born Americans Transcript from: NPR Tell Me More; 9/23/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...last year, that's for the first time in more than 30 years. That means that the overall percentage of foreign- born residents is static for...Do we have any sense of how many people are, in fact, leaving? I mean, there's been an