Average Calculator

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between mean, median, and mode?

The mean is the sum of all values divided by the count. The median is the middle value when the numbers are sorted (the average of the two middle values if the count is even). The mode is the value that appears most often, and a list can have more than one mode or none.

When should I use median instead of mean?

The median is more useful than the mean when your data has outliers or a skewed distribution. For example, median household income is more representative than mean income because a small number of very high earners can inflate the mean significantly.

What is the range and why does it matter?

The range is the difference between the largest and smallest values in your list. It gives a quick sense of how spread out the data is. A large range relative to the mean suggests high variability; a small range suggests the values cluster closely together.

How do I enter numbers with decimals or negatives?

Separate values with commas, spaces, or new lines. Decimal points and negative signs are both accepted, for example: -3.5, 0, 12.75. The calculator ignores any tokens that are not valid numbers, so extra spaces or blank lines will not cause errors.