In mathematics, the mode provides a method of describing the trends in a data set. Similar to mean and median, mode is a common type of average or calculation for the central tendency of the data set. The mode determines the number, or numbers, most common in the data set and uses that number to represent the data set as a whole. Mathematicians use the mode when they need a quick answer, but the mode is not the most accurate representation of a data set.
Instructions
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1
List the numbers of your data set in order. For example, your data set may be 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 7, 11, 11, 12, 15, 15 and 17.
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2
Denote which numbers are repeated. In the example, 3 repeats three times, 11 repeats twice and 15 repeats twice.
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3
Determine which number repeats the most. The example mode is 3.