Open main menu

Mean Average

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A mean average is when you add up a set of numbers and divide by how many of numbers were added.

About a Mean Average

A mean average is used in science to reduce the effects of random errors in the results of an experiment.

Calculating a Mean Average

Results: 5,3

\(Average = \tfrac{5+3}{2}\)

\(Average = 4\)

Results: 7.0, 6.8, 7.8

\(Average = \tfrac{7.0+6.8+7.8}{3}\)

\(Average = 7.1\)

Results: 12.3, 11.7, 11.4, 12.1

\(Average = \tfrac{12.3+11.7+11.4+12.1}{4}\)

\(Average = 11.875\) In science the answer should be rounded to the same number of significant figures as the original numbers.

\(Average = 11.9\)

Examples

ResultsTableCalculation.png
The average for each set of results can be calculated by adding a row together and dividing by the number of results in that row.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A mean average is when you add up a set of numbers and divide by how many of numbers were added.

About a Mean Average

A mean average is used in science to reduce the effects of random errors in the results of an experiment.

Calculating a Mean Average

Results: 5,3

\(Average = \tfrac{5+3}{2}\)

\(Average = 4\)

Results: 7.0, 6.8, 7.8

\(Average = \tfrac{7.0+6.8+7.8}{3}\)

\(Average = 7.1\)

Results: 12.3, 11.7, 11.4, 12.1

\(Average = \tfrac{12.3+11.7+11.4+12.1}{4}\)

\(Average = 11.875\) In science the answer should be rounded to the same number of significant figures as the original numbers.

\(Average = 11.9\)

Examples

ResultsTableCalculation.png
The average for each set of results can be calculated by adding a row together and dividing by the number of results in that row.

References

AQA

Averages (means), page 14, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Averages (means), page 14, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Averages (means), page 7, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Averages, page 13, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
Averages, page 14, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Averages, page 6, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Averages, pages 260, 262, 281, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Averages, pages 262-263, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Edexcel

Averages (means), page 14, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
Averages, page 14, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
Averages, page 6, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Averages, page 7, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Averages, page 7, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Averages, page 7, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Mean (average), page 6, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Mean (average), page 6, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Mean (average), page 6, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Mean (average), page 14, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
Mean (average), page 6, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Mean (average), page 7, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel