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The observations based on any test conducted–be it any experiment for reading the changes in value–can be noted to vary between a range. The value for each experiment may not be identical. These values may be noted to be within a range of numbers. Thus, the range may not be useful for all scenarios. Few observations work on range, but not all.
In the statistical domain, the observation can be any set of values regardless of the experiment. Few scenarios include people’s height, students’ marks, sales value per month, and more. Therefore, it becomes abruptly difficult to obtain all the values and note them. Missing values can cause serious issues. Hence, the concept leads to the origin of a new variable denoting this unique value such that it represents the overall observation.
The arithmetic mean was introduced to be a value that can represent overall data for the taken observation. Supporting the experiment, one can easily find the value representing observed values as a whole.
Arithmetic Mean and its Merits and Demerits
Assume that a sample experiment takes place such that the observed values are in a given range. Suppose a total of m readings were noted and analysed. Now, the readings can have different values, wherein few can be repeated. Now, the term denotes the overall experiment as a whole.
The experiment had m readings, and the values can be unique or repeating depending on our experiment type. Suppose the different values are m1, m2, m3…. and so on.
Now, the mean will represent the overall data from the experiment carried out.
The mean is computed from the data by taking the average for each entry to the exact value. The mean can be said to be the mid value, such that the total deviation is zero from this unique represented value for the overall data. This calculation is similar to determining the average for any set of values for any test.
Now, when we find the average, we initially observe the values we have from the experiment. These different values can be added together to get a single value. This summation of the observation is considered for calculating the mean to represent as a whole. Now, this value is divided by the total number of observed values to get the average value for the experiment. This value represents the whole lot uniquely and is known as the mean for any given data. The arithmetic mean represents the mean for the given arithmetic observations.
Thus, one can say that,
This formula can be used on any set of observations for a sample experiment. Statistics uses this in different domains to carry out the representation of the central tendency.
The sample of data valued with different observations is taken into consideration. Thus, each observation plays a unique role, and the experiment can be represented by one value. The overall experiment can be represented as a picture which is based on statistical analysis and thus comparison can be done easily. This is affected by the extreme values, and thus, not feasible for ratios and percentages. Skewed values cannot be computed. Also, if one of the items is missing, then the arithmetic mean for the given observation cannot be evaluated. Moreover, each noted value or observation is useful and equivalently important. Hence, the noted values somehow are uniquely required to compute the arithmetic mean for any set of experiments.
Example
In a company, a sample experiment was carried out based on the number of working hours in a day for a set of workers. The observations noted were 4,8,2,7,1,3,6,5,6,3. For the given experiment, working hours for the whole lot for a day per worker can be represented using the arithmetic mean.
Thus, the observation is for 10 workers of the company. Now, using the definition, we compute the summation of the values.
Hence, Summation = 4+8+2+7+1+3+6+5+6+3=45
Thus, the overall lot of workers taken into consideration can be said to work for 4 and half hours daily.
Conclusion
The arithmetic mean of different observations for any set of tests or experiments can be used to represent the whole as a one-valued observation. This value can be part of the experimental observations or a unique value for the experiment. Depending on the number and value of the observations, the mean can have different values.
