The central tendency is a single value that attempts to characterize a collection of data by defining the central location within that set of data. As a result, central tendency measures are also known as central location measures. There are three ways to measure the central tendency: mean, median, and mode. 

The Mean

The mean is one of the core concepts, either in mathematics or in statistics, and it's the most common way that we can find out the central tendency. To measure the mean, start by adding all the figures in the set together then divide the sum by the number of values in the set. The mean is affected by extreme numbers. There are many familiar types of the mean, such as Swanson's rule, Pythagorean means, Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean, interquartile mean, etc.. 

For example: 

1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6

First, add the values. (1+2+4+5+5+5+6 = 28) 

Then, count the figures in the set, which are 7. 

Now, divide 28 by 7.  (28/7= 4) 

The mean is 4. 

The Median

The median traditionally represents the value of the middle term in a data-set.

The median sufficiently provides a helpful measure of the center of a data-set. It is the best descriptive summary tool in accurately measuring the central tendency and the convenient location and it helps us to determine the proper distribution of the data.

It's calculated by ranking the selected set in increasing/ ascending order and selecting the one in the middle. 

For example:

1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6

Here, if we count to the middle digit, the median is 5. 

However, in the case of an even amount of digits, we might get two medians. For example: 

1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6 

The middle digit in the previous example is both 4 and 5.  In this case, we add 4 and 5 and divide them by two. (4+5= 9) (9/2= 4.5) 

The median is 4.5. 

The median isn't affected by extreme values, so we can use the median when extreme values are present. In statistics, the median is the midpoint that typically splits the used set — of the selected sample, population or  continuous probability distribution — into two equally. The basic function for the median is to describe the data carefully compared to the mean — which is also referred to as the average — therefore it provides better representation for the results value.

The Mode

The mode is popularly used for categorical and numerical values. In statistics, the value that appears most frequently — the most repeated item — is the mode. There can be several modes in a data set. 

For example: 

1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 

Here, the number 5 is the most repeated value, which makes it the mode. 

However, in the following example, there are two modes. 

1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 

Here, the 4 and the 5 both occurred thrice each, which makes 4 and 5 both the mode. 

Mean, Median, Mode: Explained

Mean, Median, Mode: Explained

There are three ways to measure the central tendency, which are mean, median, and mode. Click here to see how to measure them. The central tendency is a single value that attempts to characterize a collection of data by defining the central location within that set of data. As a result, central tendency measures are also known as central location measures. There are three ways to measure the central tendency: mean, median, and mode. The MeanThe mean is one of the core concepts, either in mathematics or in statistics, and it's the most common way that we can find out the central tendency. To measure the mean, start by adding all the figures in the set together then divide the sum by the number of values in the set. The mean is affected by extreme numbers. There are many familiar types of the mean, such as Swanson's rule, Pythagorean means, Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean, interquartile mean, etc.. For example: 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6First, add the values. (1+2+4+5+5+5+6 = 28) Then, count the figures in the set, which are 7. Now, divide 28 by 7.  (28/7= 4) The mean is 4. The MedianThe median traditionally represents the value of the middle term in a data-set.The median sufficiently provides a helpful measure of the center of a data-set. It is the best descriptive summary tool in accurately measuring the central tendency and the convenient location and it helps us to determine the proper distribution of the data.It's calculated by ranking the selected set in increasing/ ascending order and selecting the one in the middle. For example:1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6Here, if we count to the middle digit, the median is 5. However, in the case of an even amount of digits, we might get two medians. For example: 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6 The middle digit in the previous example is both 4 and 5.  In this case, we add 4 and 5 and divide them by two. (4+5= 9) (9/2= 4.5) The median is 4.5.  The median isn't affected by extreme values, so we can use the median when extreme values are present. In statistics, the median is the midpoint that typically splits the used set — of the selected sample, population or  continuous probability distribution — into two equally. The basic function for the median is to describe the data carefully compared to the mean — which is also referred to as the average — therefore it provides better representation for the results value.    The ModeThe mode is popularly used for categorical and numerical values. In statistics, the value that appears most frequently — the most repeated item — is the mode. There can be several modes in a data set. For example: 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 Here, the number 5 is the most repeated value, which makes it the mode. However, in the following example, there are two modes. 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6 Here, the 4 and the 5 both occurred thrice each, which makes 4 and 5 both the mode.