Instead of using the mode, the mean is the most useful measure of what a typical score is doing because it is, by definition, the average.

We use symbols for calculating the mean:

• (bar{x}) or
• (M)

If we are using data for which we have a full population, we will use the symbol for mu: (mu)

Regardless of which symbol you use to represent mean, the formula remains the same:

(bar{x} = frac{Sigma(x)}{n})

Remember that (n) is the number of scores.

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In your own words, describe why mean is a better way to represent the centre of data, rather than using the mode.

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