How to Calculate the Mean of a Set of Numbers
- 1). Calculate the sum of the individual values in the set. The sum of the values is the total when they are added together. For example, with a set consisting of 5, 2, 4, 6 and 8, the sum is 5 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 8, or 25.
- 2). Divide the sum of the values by the number of items in the set. The result is the mean average. Using the example in Step 1, there are five items, so 25 / 5 = 5. The mean average of the set of numbers is 5.
- 3). Add the appropriate unit if the values have one. For example, if the values are measurements in feet, the average is "5 feet," not just "5."
