Mean, Median, Mode, and Range for TEAS Math
Questions involving data and basic statistics are an important part of mathematical reasoning. Before taking the TEAS, make sure you can quickly calculate and interpret the mean, median, mode, and range.
What Is the Mean?
The mean is commonly called the average. To calculate it: Add all the values. Divide the total by the number of values. For example: 4, 6, 8, 10 Add the numbers: 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 28 There are four numbers: 28 ÷ 4 = 7 Therefore, the mean is 7.
What Is the Median?
The median is the middle value when the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest. Consider: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 The middle number is 7, so the median is 7. If there is an even number of values, average the two middle numbers. For example: 2, 4, 6, 8 The middle values are 4 and 6. (4 + 6) ÷ 2 = 5 The median is 5.
What Is the Mode?
The mode is the value that appears most frequently. Example: 2, 3, 3, 5, 7 The number 3 appears twice, while the others appear once. Therefore, the mode is 3. A data set can have more than one mode if multiple values occur the same number of times.
What Is the Range?
The range measures the difference between the largest and smallest values. Example: 5, 8, 12, 15 Largest = 15 Smallest = 5 15 − 5 = 10 The range is 10.
Watch for Ordering Mistakes
When finding the median, always put the numbers in order first. A list that is not arranged from smallest to largest can make the middle value difficult to identify.
Final Takeaway
Mean, median, mode, and range are straightforward once you know what each measure represents. Practice calculating all four from different data sets so you can recognize them quickly during the TEAS.
