How do you find the mean of a set of numbers?

The mean, often referred to as the average, is calculated by taking all the numbers in a set, summing them together, and then dividing that total by the number of values in the set. This method provides a central value that reflects the overall distribution of the numbers.

For instance, if you have a set of numbers like 3, 5, and 7, you first add them together to get 15. Then, you divide that sum by the total count of numbers, which in this case is 3. Therefore, 15 divided by 3 yields a mean of 5. This approach accurately captures the central tendency of the data set, making it a fundamental concept in statistics.

The other options do not correctly define how to find the mean. Multiplying numbers together would yield a product, which is not relevant when calculating the average. Subtracting the smallest number from the largest provides the range, indicating how spread out the numbers are, rather than their average. Averaging just the highest and lowest numbers would give a result that does not represent the entire set, particularly if there are more values involved. The correct method ensures a comprehensive and representative measure of the set's values.