Three “averages,” three meanings: the mean (arithmetic average), the median (middle value), and the mode (most common). Knowing which to report — especially for skewed data — matters.
The example
Three measures of center.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Measure | Value |
| 2 | Mean | 34 (pulled high) |
| 3 | Median | 25 |
| 4 | Mode | 20 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Mean (
AVERAGE) sums and divides — great for symmetric data, but pulled by outliers. - Median (
MEDIAN) is the middle value — resistant to outliers, the honest “typical” for skewed data like income. - Mode (
MODE) is the most frequent value — useful for categories and discrete data. - When mean and median diverge, the data is skewed — report the median.
Which to report? Symmetric data → mean. Skewed data (salaries, home prices) → median. Categorical or “most common” questions → mode. Showing all three is often the most honest summary.
Try it: interactive demo
Values.
Variations
Mode for text
Most common label (array):
Trimmed mean
Mean minus extremes:
Skew check
Mean − median:
Pitfalls & errors
Mean is outlier-sensitive. One big value drags it — don’t report the mean for skewed data.
MODE errors with no repeats. Returns #N/A if every value is unique.
Pick by data type. Mode suits categories; mean/median suit continuous numbers.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between mean, median, and mode in Excel?
When should I use the median instead of the mean?
How do I tell if data is skewed?
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