Average Calculator
Calculate mean, weighted average, geometric mean, and harmonic mean.
The Formula
Median: middle value when sorted
Mode: most frequent value
Range: max − min
Mean = 52 / 10 = 5.2
Sorted: 2,2,3,4,5,5,6,8,8,9
Median = (5+5)/2 = 5 · Mode = 2, 5, 8
Types of Averages
Arithmetic mean: Sum divided by count — the most common average. Weighted mean: Each value multiplied by its weight before averaging — used for GPA, grade calculations. Geometric mean: nth root of the product of n values — used for investment returns and growth rates. Harmonic mean: Reciprocal of the arithmetic mean of reciprocals — used for speeds and rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use the geometric mean vs arithmetic mean?
Use the geometric mean for multiplicative quantities like investment returns, growth rates, or ratios. Example: if an investment grows 50% one year and falls 50% the next, the arithmetic mean says 0% but the geometric mean correctly shows you've lost money (~-13% total return).
What is a weighted average?
A weighted average assigns different importance (weights) to different values. GPA is a weighted average where each grade is weighted by credit hours.