Difference Between Mean Median and Mode

To understand the differences between the three mathematical concepts mean, median and mode, we need to understand what it means. These three terms are related to each other and are the kinds of averages. Let’s learn the difference between the mean, median, and mode.

What is Mean, Median, and Mode?

The mean is the average where the sum of all the numbers is divided by the total number of numbers, whereas the median is the middle value in the list of given numbers numerically ordered from smallest to biggest and mode is the value of the number which occurs most often in the list. You can learn more about it here:

Mean, Median, and Mode Differences

These three terms are related to each other. There’s a relationship between mean, median and mode and is called an empirical relationship between them. Below are some of the most integral differences between the mean, median, mode.

What are the Differences Between Mean Median Mode?

Sl. No.





The average was taken for a set of numbers is called a mean.

The middle value in the data set is called Median.

The number that occurs the most in a given list of numbers is called a mode.


Add all of the numbers together and divide this sum of all numbers by a total number of numbers.

Place all the given numbers in an ascending order

It shows the frequency of occurrence.


The result is the mean or average score.

The next step is to find the middle number on the list. It is called as the median.

We can have more than one mode or no mode at all.


Example: To find the average of the four numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, we need to add the number first.

  1. 2 + 4 + 6+ 8 = 20
  2. Divide the sum by the total number of numbers, i. e 4.
  3. 20/4 = 5 is the average or mean

Example: If the given list is 4, 2, 8, 10, 19.

  1. Arrange the numbers in ascending order i .e 2, 4, 8, 10, 19.
  2. As the total numbers are 5, so the middle number 8 is the median here.

Example: In the given series 3,3,5,6,7,7,8,1,1,1,4,5,6

  1. Find the frequency of each number.
  2. For number 3 it’s 2, for 5 it’s 2, for 6 it’s 2, for 7 it’s 2, for 8 it’s one, for 1 it’s 3, for 4 it’s 1.
  3. The number with the highest frequency is the mode.

Register at BYJU’S to learn about other mathematical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Leave a Comment
