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Means and Medians Calculator

Enter a list of numbers to get the mean and median, plus a count of values.

Results

Count
4
Mean (average)
2.50
Median
2.50

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter numbers separated by commas, spaces, or newlines.
  2. We parse, sort, and compute the mean and median.
  3. Review the count, mean, and median results.
  4. Optionally remove outliers and rerun to see how mean vs median changes.

Inputs explained

Numbers
Enter numeric values separated by commas, spaces, or newlines. Non-numeric tokens are ignored.

How it works

We parse the list, filter out non-numeric values, and sort the numbers.

Mean = sum ÷ count. Median is the middle value (or average of the two middle values for even counts).

Formula

Mean = (Σxᵢ) ÷ n. Median = middle value after sorting; if n is even, median = (xₙ/₂ + xₙ/₂+1) ÷ 2. Count = n.

When to use it

  • Quickly summarizing a set of values without a spreadsheet.
  • Explaining the difference between mean and median on sample data.
  • Checking skew by comparing mean vs median.
  • Spot-checking small datasets from surveys or experiments on the fly.
  • Demonstrating outlier effects: remove extremes and compare mean vs median changes.
  • Comparing two groups’ central tendency by running them separately.
  • Reviewing small business KPIs (ticket sizes, response times) without exporting to Excel.
  • Teaching mean vs median in a classroom with quick pasted examples.
  • Validating rough calculations from a calculator or notebook by pasting the same list here.

Tips & cautions

  • Remove outliers to see how they affect the mean vs median.
  • Use consistent delimiters for easier entry; commas or spaces both work.
  • If your data has units, keep units consistent before entering (e.g., all dollars or all minutes).
  • Use median when data is skewed (e.g., incomes); mean when distribution is symmetric.
  • For repeated analyses, keep a clean list handy so you can paste and iterate quickly.
  • No weighted mean; simple arithmetic mean only.
  • Does not compute mode or other statistics.
  • No standard deviation, percentiles, or trimming—this is a minimal central tendency tool.
  • Ignores non-numeric tokens; ensure your list is clean if you expect all values to be counted.
  • Large datasets may be cumbersome to paste; intended for quick, small-to-medium lists.
  • Assumes numeric inputs; scientific notation or currency symbols may be skipped if not parsed cleanly.

Worked examples

Simple set

  • Input: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • Count = 5; Mean = 3; Median = 3.

Even count

  • Input: 10, 20, 30, 40.
  • Count = 4; Mean = 25; Median = (20 + 30)/2 = 25.

Skewed by an outlier

  • Input: 50, 55, 60, 70, 500.
  • Count = 5; Mean = 147; Median = 60.
  • Shows how the outlier 500 pulls the mean up while the median stays near the bulk of values.

Newlines and spaces

  • Input with spaces/newlines: 3 3 4\n5 6 7.
  • Count = 6; Mean ≈ 4.67; Median = (4 + 5)/2 = 4.5.

Deep dive

Calculate mean and median from a list of numbers entered with commas, spaces, or newlines—no spreadsheet needed.

Paste numbers to see the average, median, and count instantly for quick data checks.

Compare mean vs median to spot skew or outlier impact on small datasets.

Use this fast mean/median calculator for surveys, experiments, or quick KPI checks.

Teach mean vs median concepts with real numbers pasted directly from homework or reports.

Drop in KPI values to see whether a few large numbers are skewing your average.

FAQs

Do I need commas?
No. Commas, spaces, and newlines all work; we parse all numbers we find.
How are non-numeric tokens handled?
They’re skipped. Keep your list clean if you want every entry to count.
Does this support weighted averages?
No. It’s a simple arithmetic mean and median. Multiply values beforehand if you need weights.
Is there a limit on list length?
Designed for quick, small-to-medium lists. Very large pastes may be unwieldy; use a spreadsheet or stats tool for big datasets.
Can I get quartiles or std dev?
Not here. This focuses on count, mean, and median only.

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Simple mean/median tool intended for small lists and quick checks. No weighting, dispersion metrics, or distribution modeling. Clean your data and use full statistical tools for detailed analysis.