Statistics. Mean and median

Statistics is the branch of mathematics that allows us to understand and analyze data in the world around us. From economics to medicine to science and technology, statistics plays a fundamental role. Thanks to statistics, we know how to collect, organize, analyze and interpret data. It allows us to extract meaningful information from a set of observations. From opinion polls to scientific studies, statistics are everywhere.

Two of the most important statistical parameters are the mean and the median.

The Statistical Mean

The mean is the average value of a set of data. To calculate it, we add up all the values and then divide that sum by the number of values. For example, if we have the ages of five people (25, 30, 40, 40, 60 and 95), the mean would be:

Mean = (25+30+40+60+95) / 5 = 50 years.

The Statistical Median

The median is the value that is right in the middle of a set of ordered data. If we have the same ages as mentioned above, the median would be the value of the third person (40 years). If we had an even number of ages, we would average the two middle values.

Why are the mean and median important?

The mean and median help us understand the central tendency of our data. The statistical mean is sensitive to extreme values (such as a multimillionaire in a group of people with low income), while the statistical median is more robust to these outliers.

In short, statistics allow us to make informed decisions, understand patterns, and discover hidden relationships in data. The online statistical simulations on this page are an excellent tool to delve deeper into this important branch of mathematics.