Mastering Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This instructional video provides a clear, step-by-step guide on how to calculate the four primary statistical measures of central tendency and variability: mean, median, mode, and range. Using a digital blackboard format, the narrator walks viewers through four distinct practice problems that increase in complexity. The video covers scenarios with both odd and even numbered data sets, demonstrating specific rules for finding the median when there are two middle numbers and how to identify data sets with no mode versus a single mode. Key themes include data organization, arithmetic operations, and statistical analysis. The video emphasizes the importance of ordering numbers from least to greatest before attempting to find the median or range, a critical step often missed by students. It also distinguishes between the arithmetic mean (average) and the median (middle value), helping to clarify common points of confusion in introductory statistics. For educators, this video serves as an excellent direct instruction tool or review resource for math classrooms. It is particularly useful for scaffolding learning, as it moves from simple integer data sets to those requiring decimal answers and multi-step median calculations. The pause-and-practice format encouraged by the narrator makes it ideal for interactive classroom viewing or independent student practice/remediation.