Basic Mathematics for College Students

one of the 10 that all read the same, figuring that any of those that agree will likely be
correct.
By choosing that temperature that appears most often, we have chosen the mode
of the 20 values.

The Mode

The modeof a set of values is the single value that occurs most often. The

mode of several values is also called the modal value.

7.2 Mean, Median, and Mode 615

EXAMPLE (^7) Find the mode of these values:
3657372435 37 873 7634
StrategyWe will determine how many times each of the values, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and
8 occurs.
WHYWe need to know which values occur most often.
Solution
It is not necessary to list the values in increasing order. Instead, we can make a chart
and use tally marksto keep track of the number of times that the values 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, and 8 occur.
23 45678
/ ////// /
Because 3 occurs more times than any other value, it is the mode.

//// / //// 

These values appear in the list.

Tally marks



Self Check 7

Find the mode of these values:

234624

343425

Now TryProblems 33 and 37

The Language of Mathematics In Example 7, the given set of values has one

mode. If a set of values has two modes (exactly two values that occur an equal

number of times and more often than any other value) it is said to be bimodal.

If no value in a set occurs more often than another, then there is no mode.

5 Use the mean, median, and mode to describe a set of values.

EXAMPLE (^8) Machinist’s tools The diameters (distances across) of
eight stainless steel bearings were found using the calipers shown below. Find
a.the mean, b.the median, and c.the mode of the set of measurements
listed.
3.43 cm 3.25 cm 3.48 cm 3.39 cm 3.54 cm 3.48 cm 3.23 cm 3.24 cm
StrategyWe will determine the sum of the measurements, the number of
measurements, the middle measurement(s), and the most often occurring
measurement.
WHYWe need to know that information to give the mean, median, and mode.
Calipers
Stainless
steel bearing
Self Check 8
MOBILE PHONESThe weights of
eight different makes of mobile
phones are: 4.37 oz, 5.98 oz, 4.36 oz,
4.95 oz, 5.05 oz, 5.95 oz, 4.95 oz,
and 5.27 oz. Find the mean,
median, and mode weight.
Now TryProblem 47