Mode, median and range · Usually met around P5
The mode
The value seen most often: the value, not the count.
How to do it
Method
The value seen most often: the value, not the count
3, 5, 5, 8, 5, 9: 5 appears 3 times, so the mode is 5
Another way
Tally marks
3 |, 5 |||, 8 |, 9 | → 5
In full
The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data. Sort the data from smallest to largest so that equal values sit together, then count how often each appears. Or use tally marks: write each value once and add a mark each time you see it. The value with the most is the mode: give the value, not how many times. If every value appears equally often, there is no mode; if two values tie for the most, there are two modes. Categorical data have a mode too, such as the flavour most people choose.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
Data: 2, 17, 1, 17, 20, 17, 7. What is the mode?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 17
17 appears 3 times and every other value once: 17, seen most often, is the mode.
Example 2
Data: 6, 27, 20, 27, 20, 7. How many modes does it have?
- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. No mode
- D. 3
Choose the right answer
Show the answer and working
Answer: B. 2
Sort and count each value: every value tied for the most is a mode; if each appears once, there is no mode.
Example 3
Data: 17, 10, 3, 17, 19, 10. One more value is added, and now there is exactly one mode. The value added is bigger than 16. What is it?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 17
10 and 17 each appear twice. Adding one of them makes it appear 3 times, the only mode; the one bigger than 16 is 17.
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