Definition
Big Idea: The mode is the value that appears most frequently. Only measure not affected by outliers or skewness. Can have no mode, one mode (unimodal), or multiple modes (bimodal/multimodal).
Quick rule: Mode = highest frequency value. Works for categorical or numerical data.
Mode from raw data
Count frequency: Data: 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 9 Frequency: 2 appears 1×, 3 appears 2×, 5 appears 3×, 7 appears 4×, 9 appears 1× Mode = 7 (highest frequency)
Possible situations: No mode: all values appear once One mode: one value highest frequency (unimodal) Multiple modes: two or more tied frequencies (bimodal/multimodal)
Worked example - Mode from raw data
Apply the core method for Mode in this section context.
Step by step
- Write the relevant formula or rule first to secure method marks.
- Substitute values from the question carefully and keep units/labels clear.
- Simplify and check whether the result is reasonable in context.
Final answer
Final answer should be clearly stated and interpreted for Mode.
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Modal class
For grouped data: Modal class = class with highest frequency.__LINEBREAK__Example frequency table: [0-10): frequency 5 [10-20): frequency 12 ← modal class [20-30): frequency 8__LINEBREAK__Estimated mode ≈ midpoint = 15
Worked example - Modal class
Apply the core method for Mode in this section context.
Step by step
- Write the relevant formula or rule first to secure method marks.
- Substitute values from the question carefully and keep units/labels clear.
- Simplify and check whether the result is reasonable in context.
Final answer
Final answer should be clearly stated and interpreted for Mode.
When to use mode
Use mode when: ✓ Data is categorical (colors, brands, preferences) ✓ You want most frequent/popular value ✓ Working with grouped data (use modal class) ✓ Comparing multiple distributions
Mode limitations: ✗ May not exist (all different values) ✗ Can have multiple modes (confusing) ✗ Doesnt use all data (ignores frequencies)