Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Mode, range, median and mean (2)

In a mathematics lesson for Year 6 students, the concept of the mean is introduced as a measure of average. The lesson uses a practical example involving three children, Padma, Jade, and Han, who have a collection of sweets. Padma has 3 sweets, Jade has 7 sweets, and Han has 5 sweets, making a total of 15 sweets between them. To find the mean number of sweets, the total is divided equally among the three children. This is calculated by dividing the total number of sweets, which is 15, by the number of children, which is 3. The result of this division is 5, meaning that each child would receive 5 sweets if they were to share them equally.

The lesson explains the formula for calculating the mean as the sum of all values divided by the number of values. In this case, the sum of the sweets (3 + 7 + 5) equals 15, and there are 3 values (the number of children). Therefore, the mean is calculated as 15 divided by 3, which equals 5. The lesson reinforces the understanding that the mean is the average value, and in this context, it represents the average number of sweets per child. This concept is a fundamental aspect of learning about mode, range, median, and mean, and it provides a solid foundation for statistical understanding in mathematics.