How do you calculate the mean of a data set?

To calculate the mean of a data set, you add all of the values together and then divide that total by the number of values in the set. This method takes into account every number in the data set, providing a central value that represents the entire collection of numbers. The mean is a measure of central tendency that helps summarize data by providing a single value that reflects the overall distribution.

In contrast, other methods such as finding the median or mode do not involve a calculation based on all the values. The median is concerned with identifying the middle value when the data is ordered, while the mode identifies the most frequently occurring value. Subtracting the smallest value from the largest only gives a range, which doesn’t provide the average or central tendency of the data. Thus, adding all the values together and dividing by the count captures the essence of the mean accurately.