Averages and Probability: example 5.50

The ages of the members of a family who got together for a birthday celebration were $16, 26, 53, 56, 65, 70, 93, and 97$ years. Find the mean age.

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

The ages of the four students in Ben’s carpool are $25, 18, 21, and 22 .$ Find the mean age of the students.

How did it go?

Write the formula for the mean:	$mean = \frac{sum of all the numbers}{n}$
Write the sum of the numbers in the numerator.	$mean = \frac{16 + 26 + 53 + 56 + 65 + 70 + 93 + 97}{n}$
Count how many numbers are in the set. Call this $n$ and write it in the denominator.	$mean = \frac{16 + 26 + 53 + 56 + 65 + 70 + 93 + 97}{8}$
Simplify the fraction.	$mean = \frac{476}{8}$
	$mean = 59.5$

Write the formula for the mean:	$mean = \frac{sum of all the numbers}{n}$
Write the sum of the numbers in the numerator.	$mean = \frac{16 + 26 + 53 + 56 + 65 + 70 + 93 + 97}{n}$
Count how many numbers are in the set. Call this $n$ and write it in the denominator.	$mean = \frac{16 + 26 + 53 + 56 + 65 + 70 + 93 + 97}{8}$
Simplify the fraction.	$mean = \frac{476}{8}$
	$mean = 59.5$