Question

Find the mean of each pair of numbers. 4 and 8

Short answer

The mean of 4 and 8 is 6.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Mean

The mean (or average) of a set of numbers is calculated by adding all the numbers together and then dividing the sum by the quantity of numbers in the set.

Sum the Numbers

To find the mean of the pair of numbers 4 and 8, first sum the numbers: \[ 4 + 8 = 12 \]

Count the Numbers

There are 2 numbers in the pair. This is crucial because you need to divide the total sum by this count to find the mean.

Calculate the Mean

Divide the sum of the numbers by the number of elements in the set: \[ \text{Mean} = \frac{12}{2} = 6 \]

Key concepts

Understanding Mathematical Average

The mathematical average, commonly known as the mean, is a basic concept in arithmetic often used to find a central or typical value of a number set. It helps determine how numbers are distributed. To find the average, you need to follow these accessible steps:

• Add up all the numbers in the set.
• Count how many numbers are there.
• Divide the sum of the numbers by the total count.

Using this method, you can find the equilibrium point of any number set, providing a balanced view of their collective value.

Importance of Number Pairs

Number pairs play a significant role in understanding certain mathematical concepts because they represent the simplest form of number sets, containing only two numbers. When calculating the mean of a number pair:

• You're simply looking for the average of two values.
• This involves combining the numbers and assessing their total effectiveness when averaged.
• It's a foundational step to grasping more complex mathematical operations.

Number pairs are a great starting point for understanding mean calculations since they make the process straightforward and intuitive.

Basics of Arithmetic in Mean Calculation

Basic arithmetic is essential when solving problems involving mean calculations. Arithmetic operations like addition and division are the groundwork for finding averages. Here's how it works in the context of mean:

• Addition is used to accumulate the total of the numbers involved.
• Division is applied afterward to distribute this total evenly across the numbers.

In our example, adding the numbers 4 and 8 gives 12, and since there are two numbers, dividing 12 by 2 yields the mean, which is 6. These straightforward arithmetic operations enable you to approach mean calculation problems with confidence.