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Year 6 · Maths · Statistics · Lesson 3

The mean

Calculate the mean as total ÷ number of values, interpret it as sharing equally, find missing values, and consider when the mean is a good average.

Whiteboard video lesson: The mean

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Calculate the mean
  • Interpret the mean
  • Find a missing value
  • Compare means
  • Recognise outliers

The method

  1. Add all the values.
  2. Count the values.
  3. Divide total by count.
  4. Check it's in range.

Key words: mean, average, total, outlier, data.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Find the mean of 2, 4, 6.

  1. Step 1: Total: 2 + 4 + 6 = 12
  2. Step 2: How many? 3
  3. Step 3: Mean = 12 ÷ 3 = 4

Answer: 4

Question 2

Find the mean of 5, 5, 8.

  1. Step 1: Total: 5 + 5 + 8 = 18
  2. Step 2: How many? 3
  3. Step 3: Mean = 18 ÷ 3 = 6

Answer: 6

Question 3

Find the mean of 10, 20, 30, 40.

  1. Step 1: Total: 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 = 100
  2. Step 2: How many? 4
  3. Step 3: Mean = 100 ÷ 4 = 25

Answer: 25