How to find the arithmetic mean and geometric mean of numbers?

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How to find the arithmetic mean and geometric mean of numbers?
How to find the arithmetic mean and geometric mean of numbers?
Anonim

The topic of arithmetic mean and geometric mean is included in the mathematics program for grades 6-7. Since the paragraph is quite simple to understand, it is quickly passed, and by the end of the school year, students forget it. But knowledge in basic statistics is needed to pass the exam, as well as for international SAT exams. And for everyday life, developed analytical thinking never hurts.

How to calculate the arithmetic mean and geometric mean of numbers

Let's say there is a series of numbers: 11, 4, and 3. The arithmetic mean is the sum of all numbers divided by the number of given numbers. That is, in the case of numbers 11, 4, 3, the answer will be 6. How is 6 obtained?

Solution: (11 + 4 + 3) / 3=6

The denominator must contain a number equal to the number of numbers whose average is to be found. The sum is divisible by 3, since there are three terms.

how to find arithmetic mean and meangeometric
how to find arithmetic mean and meangeometric

Now we need to deal with the geometric mean. Let's say there is a series of numbers: 4, 2 and 8.

Geometric mean is the product of all given numbers, under the root with a degree equal to the number of given numbers. That is, in the case of numbers 4, 2 and 8, the answer is 4. Here's how it happened:

Solution: ∛(4 × 2 × 8)=4

In both cases, whole answers were obtained, since special numbers were taken as an example. This is not always the case. In most cases, the answer has to be rounded or left at the root. For example, for the numbers 11, 7, and 20, the arithmetic mean is ≈ 12.67, and the geometric mean is ∛1540. And for the numbers 6 and 5, the answers, respectively, will be 5, 5 and √30.

Can it happen that the arithmetic mean becomes equal to the geometric mean?

Of course it can. But only in two cases. If there is a series of numbers consisting only of either ones or zeros. It is also noteworthy that the answer does not depend on their number.

Proof with units: (1 + 1 + 1) / 3=3 / 3=1 (arithmetic mean).

∛(1 × 1 × 1)=∛1=1(geometric mean).

1=1

the arithmetic mean is equal to the geometric mean
the arithmetic mean is equal to the geometric mean

Proof with zeros: (0 + 0) / 2=0 (arithmetic mean).

√(0 × 0)=0 (geometric mean).

0=0

There is no other option and there cannot be.

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