286 Essential Skills for Health Careers Success
On average, Lori spent $159 per vet visit.
The median is the number that falls exactly in the
middle of a list of numbers organized in either ascending
(increasing) or descending (decreasing) order.
Example: As Figure 10.10 shows, Lori spent
$110, $110, $140, $165, $270 (in ascending
order). The median number is $140 because it
is in the exact middle of the values.
In the example above, it was easy to identify the
median because there were an odd number of bills. How-
ever, if you have an even numbered list (let’s say that Lori
went to the vet six times), look for the two numbers that
fall in the middle of the group. Add these two numbers
together, and then divide the total by 2 because that’s how
many numbers were entered into the equation.
Example: Imagine the numbers in your list are
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; the median numbers are 3
and 4.
Add 3 + 4 together and you get 7. Now you divide by 2 because there
were two median numbers.
7 ÷ 2 = 3.5, the median is 3.5
The mode is the number(s) that occur most frequently in a set of num-
bers. Some lists of numbers do not have a mode, while others may have
one or more. In the case of Lori’s vet bills, the mode is $110.
Spreadsheets and Databases
A spreadsheet is a document that holds information in rows and col-
umns, and is usually created by a computer program. Each row and
column contains cells that hold information in the form of words or
median
the number exactly in the
middle of a group of num-
bers listed in ascending or
descending order
mode
the number(s) that occur
most frequently in a set of
numbers
Using Mean, Median, and Mode in Healthcare
1. Five people who visited the Eastridge Hospital emergency room on Sun-
day were admitted with the following temperatures:
98.6°F, 101°F, 105°F, 98.6°F, 98.6°F
Calculate the mean, median, and mode of these temperatures.
2. Over the course of the past week, the following number of meals was
served each day in the Eastridge Hospital cafeteria:
Monday—145 meals, Tuesday—152 meals, Wednesday—192 meals,
Thursday—230 meals, Friday— 230 meals
Calculate the mean, median, and mode for the number of meals served
over the course of those fi ve days.
Real Life Scenario
spreadsheet
a document containing
rows and columns of data;
useful for organizing
numeric values and execut-
ing computer calculations
Calculating Mean, Median, and
Mode
Month Services Charges
January Checkup, shots $140
March Offi ce visit, ear exami-
nation, ear medicine,
nail trim
$165
May Offi ce visit, allergy
testing, hypoallergenic
food
$270
July Offi ce visit, allergy
shots
$110
October Offi ce visit, allergy
shots
$110
Figure 10.10 Calculating, mean, median, and
mode