#Negative 1 plus positive 1 how to

Examples of calculating the mean with positive and negative numbers

Sometimes, when a data set includes negative values, the mean may be negative. Using the previous example, if you had a combined total of nine numbers or values, then you'd divide 45 by 9 to reach a mean of 5. To get your mean, divide the total from the number of values you added together. Divide by the number of figures in the data set If your initial sum of positive numbers is 80 and you have -35 from the calculation of your negative numbers, then you're calculating this equation: 80 - 35 = 45.

Again, combining negative numbers with a positive sum is the same as subtracting. Now that you have a total of positive numbers, subtract the negative numbers from the data set to get your total. This can help organize your calculation rather than having to switch from addition to subtraction to find the sum of the data set. It's useful to separate the positive values for the negative ones so that you can conduct all the addition the data set requires and then do the subtraction part of the equation. Separate positive and negative numbers to find the total for the positive numbers before subtracting the negative numbers. Related: What Is a Data Set? (With Definition, Types and Examples) 2. Adding a negative number to a total sum is the same as subtracting a number, so it's important to complete this step correctly. If you see negative numbers in a data set, make sure you know how many you have before proceeding with your calculation. Find out how many negative numbers exist in the data setĪ negative number is any value that's less than zero.

Follow these steps to calculate the mean with negative numbers: 1. You can calculate the mean even when you have negative numbers in the data set.

#Negative 1 plus positive 1 how to

Related: 12 Helpful Rules of Division (With Examples) How to calculate the mean using negative numbers The sum divided by 10 is the mean of dollars you spend on the business trip. For example, if you make 10 purchases on a business trip and want to solve for the average of money you spend, first add together the total costs of the 10 purchases and then divide that sum by 10 since that's the number of purchases you made on the trip. Once you add all the amounts in the data set, divide the sum by the number of data values. Related: How To Solve Simple Equations (With Examples) 3. It's also a good idea to make the calculation twice. A calculator can also improve speed and accuracy. If the data set is five or more values, it may be useful to use a calculator to help keep track of each value. Add all the numbers to reach your total sumĪdd all the numbers in your data set to get the total amount. Related: How To Measure Accuracy and Precision in 5 Steps 2.

If any of the numbers in the data set are inaccurate, the calculation is also inaccurate. For example, if you're finding the average number of sales over several months, ensure that your data set only includes sales from the specific period of time. Verify a set of numbers to ensure they're accurate and representative of the data you're trying to analyze. Here are the step-by-step directions to calculate the mean: 1. Mean = the sum of all data values divided by the number of data values Here's a simple way to calculate the mean number within a data set: Related: How To Calculate Sample Mean (With Formula and Examples) How to calculate the mean By knowing the average expense or income within a specific data set, you can better position yourself to increase your profits or savings. You can use this calculation for any situation in which you may benefit from understanding the average value of a data set, such as cost or income. The mean refers to the average number calculated within a specific data set. View more jobs on Indeed View More What is the mean?