1. What is Sample Mean?

The sample mean (x̄) is the average value of a set of numbers, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values. It's a fundamental measure of central tendency in statistics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the sample mean formula:

Where:

• \( \bar{x} \) — Sample mean
• \( x_i \) — Individual values in the sample
• \( n \) — Number of values in the sample
• \( \sum \) — Summation symbol

Explanation: The formula sums all values in the dataset and divides by the count of values to find the arithmetic average.

3. Importance of Sample Mean

Details: The sample mean provides a central value that represents the entire dataset. It's used in hypothesis testing, confidence interval estimation, and as a basis for many statistical analyses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter numeric values separated by commas (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20). The calculator will ignore any non-numeric values and calculate the mean of valid numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between sample mean and population mean?
A: Sample mean (x̄) is calculated from a subset of data, while population mean (μ) is calculated from all data in a population. Sample mean is an estimate of population mean.

Q2: When should I use median instead of mean?
A: Use median when your data has outliers or is skewed, as the mean can be disproportionately affected by extreme values.

Q3: What if my data contains non-numeric values?
A: The calculator automatically filters out non-numeric values and only uses valid numbers for the calculation.

Q4: How many decimal places should I report?
A: Typically, report one more decimal place than your original measurements. The calculator shows 4 decimal places by default.

Q5: Can I calculate mean for negative numbers?
A: Yes, the mean can be calculated for any numeric values, including negative numbers.