vmbo havo vwo
Mean calculator
Quick answer
Mean (Dutch: gemiddelde — also called the average) = sum ÷ count. For 2, 5, 5, 8, 11 the sum is 31, so the mean is 6.2.
Median: middle value after sorting; for an even count, the mean of the two middle values. Mode: the value that appears most often — or none, or several.
Calculator
Paste or type numbers, separated by a comma or a space.
What is a mean?
The arithmetic mean spreads the total evenly across every observation. The median reacts less to outliers. The mode describes what shows up most often — for example a grade in a class. This page covers those center measures only, not how far values sit from the center.
| Measure | Meaning | For 2, 5, 5, 8, 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | Sum ÷ count | 31 ÷ 5 = 6.2 |
| Median | Middle after sorting (even: mean of the two middle values) | 5 |
| Mode | Most frequent value (or none / several) | 5 |
How far those numbers sit from the center: standard deviation calculator — that page computes σ and s; here only the center. On vmbo (more practical track), havo and vwo (middle and university-preparatory tracks) this belongs with statistics (Dutch: Statistiek). Shares of a group: percentage calculator.
Examples by level
Scores: 2, 5, 5, 8, 11. Mean, median, mode?
- Mean31 ÷ 5 = 6.2
- MedianAlready sorted; the middle value is 5
- Mode5 appears twice
An outlier (for example 50 instead of 11) pulls the mean up; the median stays closer to the middle of the list.
1, 2, 3, 4. Median with an even count?
- Two middle values2 and 3
- Mean of those(2 + 3) ÷ 2 = 2.5
- Modenone: each value once
1, 1, 2, 2. How many modes?
- Frequency1 and 2 each appear twice
- Two modes1 and 2 (bimodal)
Common mistakes
Wrong
For 1, 2, 3, 4, picking the median as 2 or as 3 alone.
Right
Even count: mean of the two middle values — here 2.5.
Wrong
Leaving the mode blank when there is none, or when there are two.
Right
Say it: no mode, or several modes.
Wrong
Treating an empty list or text such as “abc” as a number.
Right
Numbers only. Empty or non-numeric input: the tool rejects or ignores it and does not work out a mean.
Wrong
Computing standard deviation here as if it “belongs with the mean”.
Right
Spread: open the standard deviation calculator.
Practice
vmbo 4, 6, 8. What is the mean?
6
18 ÷ 3 = 6.
havo 3, 5, 7, 9. Median?
6
(5 + 7) ÷ 2 = 6.
vwo 10, 10, 10. Mode?
10 — one mode; every observation is the same.
vwo Why is the median often more useful than the mean for income?
Outliers pull the mean up
The median stays closer to “the middle” of the group. See CBS income statistics (Dutch statistics office).
In the Netherlands
CBS publishes means and medians (for example income). The median is often the better center then, because outliers pull the arithmetic mean upward. Definitions sit at CBS.
Next step
- How does this work? The explanation and examples are further up this page.
- Test yourself Mean practice, with an explanation after every answer.
Learning path
- Next: Standard deviation calculator Spread: population and sample standard deviation.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a mean?
Sum ÷ count. 2, 5, 5, 8, 11 → 31 ÷ 5 = 6.2.
What is the difference between mean, median and mode?
Mean is sum ÷ count. Median is the middle value. Mode is the value that appears most often.
What if there is no mode?
If every number appears equally often (for example 1, 2, 3, 4), say: no mode.
Where do you calculate the standard deviation?
On the standard deviation calculator. This page covers centre measures only.