Year 6 Maths: The Mean

What is the Mean?

Hello, Year 6! Today, we’re going to learn about something called “the mean.” The mean is a way to find the average of a set of numbers. It’s a very useful tool in maths and helps us understand data better.

How to Find the Mean

To find the mean, you need to follow these three simple steps:

1. Add up all the numbers. This is called the sum.
2. Count how many numbers there are. This is the total number of items in your set.
3. Divide the sum by the total number. This gives you the mean.

Example

Let’s say we have these five numbers: 4, 8, 6, 5, and 7.

1. Add them together: $$4 + 8 + 6 + 5 + 7 = 30$$
2. Count the numbers:There are 5 numbers.
3. Divide the sum by the count: $$\text{Mean} = \frac{30}{5} = 6$$

So, the mean of those numbers is 6!

Key Rules

• Always add first! You can’t find the mean without finding the total.
• Count carefully. Make sure you count every number in your set.
• Divide correctly. Use your times tables to help with division if you need to!

Tips and Tricks

• If you have a lot of numbers, it might help to write them down in a line before you start adding.
• You can use a calculator to check your work, but make sure you understand the steps!
• The mean can sometimes be affected by very high or very low numbers, which are called outliers.

Questions

Now that you understand the mean, let’s practice! Here are some questions to help you.

Easy Level Questions

1. Find the mean of: 2, 4, 6.
2. What is the mean of: 10, 20, 30?
3. Calculate the mean of: 1, 3, 5, 7.
4. What is the mean of: 8, 12, 16?
5. Determine the mean of: 9, 1, 5, 3.
6. Find the mean of: 15, 25.
7. What is the mean of: 5, 10, 15?
8. Calculate the mean of: 4, 4, 4, 4, 4.
9. What is the mean of: 3, 6, 9?
10. Determine the mean of: 12, 18, 24.

Medium Level Questions

11. Find the mean of: 7, 14, 21, 28.
12. What is the mean of: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25?
13. Calculate the mean of: 2, 8, 12, 6.
14. What is the mean of: 11, 22, 33, 44?
15. Determine the mean of: 3, 9, 12, 15, 18.
16. Find the mean of: 5, 5, 10, 10, 15.
17. What is the mean of: 4, 7, 8, 9, 10?
18. Calculate the mean of: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
19. What is the mean of: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60?
20. Determine the mean of: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.

Hard Level Questions

21. Find the mean of: 15, 25, 35, 45, 55.
22. What is the mean of: 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55?
23. Calculate the mean of: 13, 15, 21, 23, 29.
24. What is the mean of: 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80?
25. Determine the mean of: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36.
26. Find the mean of: 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34.
27. What is the mean of: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70?
28. Calculate the mean of: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.
29. What is the mean of: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500?
30. Determine the mean of: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28.

Answers

Easy Level Answers

1. 4
2. 20
3. 4
4. 12
5. 4.5
6. 20
7. 10
8. 4
9. 6
10. 18

Medium Level Answers

11. 21
12. 15
13. 6
14. 27.5
15. 11.5
16. 9
17. 7.6
18. 3.5
19. 40
20. 6

Hard Level Answers

21. 35
22. 30
23. 19
24. 55
25. 21
26. 24
27. 40
28. 22.5
29. 300
30. 16

Great job today! Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep using the mean to help you with your maths!