What is the definition of the mean in a set of numbers?

The mean, often referred to as the average, is defined as the sum of all the numbers in a set divided by the total number of values in that set. This measure provides a central value that represents the typical magnitude of the numbers within the dataset.

When calculating the mean, you first add together every value, which gives you the total sum. Then, you divide this sum by the count of the numbers in the set. For instance, if you have the numbers 2, 4, and 6, you calculate the mean by first adding these together to get 12, and then dividing by 3 (the number of values), which results in a mean of 4.

This definition distinguishes the mean from other statistical measures such as the median, which is the middle number in a set when arranged in order, or the range, which is the difference between the highest and lowest values. Thus, the mean serves as a critical summary measure of a dataset, providing insights into the overall level of the numbers it encompasses.