• JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    The word average can technically refer to arithmetic mean, median, mode, or range. That’s why you were probably taught them at the same time. That’s also why tests like the ACT tend to have a * at the top that says something along the lines of “Unless otherwise stated, the word average indicates arithmetic mean.”

    • morrowind
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      10 months ago

      I have never in my life seen it refer to anything but the mean

      • JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Because mean is the most common form of average. But, for example, when referring to salaries, the words median and average are often used interchangeably.

        • BA834024112@lemmy.zip
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          10 months ago

          This isn’t true at all

          Edit: well they may be used interchangebly, but they’re also used incorrectly in that case