The mode in a list of numbers is
the value that occurs most frequently
- Tip #1: “mode” starts with the same first two letters that “most” does.
- Tip #2: To calculate the mode easily, you should preferably sort the values from (high to low or vice versa)
- Tip #3: If some values are tied for most frequent value, then there are several modes for the sample (multimodal sample). If every value is unique, there is no mode to the sample.
Example:
Ages of Sampled Men: 18, 19, 23, 25, 30, 30, 35, 36, 39, 45, 54, 66, 66, 66, 74
Mode(men) = 66 yrs: this age is the most frequently (3 times) observed among sampled men
Ages of Sampled Women: 19, 19, 24, 29, 37, 39, 48, 57, 69, 70, 72, 75, 82, 83
Mode(women) = 19 yrs: this age is the most frequently (twice) observed among sampled women
Ages of Sampled Men: 18, 19, 23, 25, 30, 30, 35, 36, 39, 45, 54, 66, 66, 66, 74
Mode(men) = 66 yrs: this age is the most frequently (3 times) observed among sampled men
Ages of Sampled Women: 19, 19, 24, 29, 37, 39, 48, 57, 69, 70, 72, 75, 82, 83
Mode(women) = 19 yrs: this age is the most frequently (twice) observed among sampled women