What is the mean of these numbers: 120, 118, 120, 136, 121?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To calculate the mean of the numbers 120, 118, 120, 136, and 121, follow these steps:
- Add the numbers together:
[
120 + 118 + 120 + 136 + 121 = 715
] - Count the numbers:
There are 5 numbers in total. - Divide the total sum by the count:
[
\text{Mean} = \frac{715}{5} = 143
]
So, the mean of the numbers 120, 118, 120, 136, and 121 is 143.
Explanation of the Mean
The mean, commonly referred to as the average, is a measure of central tendency that provides a single value representing the center point of a dataset. It is calculated by summing all the values in the dataset and then dividing by the number of values. The mean is useful in various fields, including statistics, economics, psychology, and healthcare, as it provides a quick snapshot of the data.
In this example, we have five values: 120, 118, 120, 136, and 121. By adding these values, we obtain a total of 715. The next step is to divide this total by the number of values (5), which yields a mean of 143.
Understanding the mean is essential as it helps to summarize data in a simple manner. However, it is important to note that the mean can be sensitive to outliers—extremely high or low values can skew the mean significantly. For instance, if we had an additional number like 200 added to our set, the mean would rise dramatically, possibly misrepresenting the general trend of the data.
Thus, while the mean provides a valuable measure of central tendency, it should be used alongside other statistical measures, such as median and mode, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the dataset. In conclusion, the mean serves as a fundamental tool in data analysis, allowing for quick comparisons and insights into numerical data distributions.