Statistics Fundamentals • Topic 3 of 6

Mode

The mode is the value that appears most often in a data set. A set can have one mode, more than one (if several values tie for most frequent), or no mode at all (if every value occurs once). The mode is the only measure of center that works for non-numerical data, such as the most common colour or response. It is unaffected by outliers. On the SAT the mode appears in frequency tables and "which value occurs most" questions; the main skill is counting occurrences carefully and recognising when there is a tie or no mode.

✅ Solved examples

1. Find the mode of 2, 3, 3, 5, 7.
3 occurs most often, so the mode is 3.
2. Find the mode of 4, 4, 6, 6, 9.
4 and 6 each occur twice — two modes (bimodal).
3. Find the mode of 1, 2, 3, 4.
Every value occurs once, so there is no mode.
4. In 5, 5, 5, 8, 9, what is the mode?
5 occurs three times, the most, so the mode is 5.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Find the mode of 7, 8, 8, 8, 10.
Which value repeats most?
8 appears three times.
—
8.
2. Find the mode of 2, 2, 5, 5, 9.
Count each value.
2 and 5 both appear twice.
—
2 and 5 (bimodal).
3. Find the mode of 3, 6, 9, 12.
Each value once.
No repeats.
—
No mode.
4. Find the mode of 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3.
Count occurrences.
1 appears three times.
—
1.
5. Find the mode of 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7.
Most frequent value.
6 appears three times.
—
6.

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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