5 ms·

In math, most of the time, mean and average are used to mean the same thing. I will concede that yes, I did mean the mean average, or more properly, if you wish

In math, most of the time, mean and average are used to mean the same thing. I will concede that yes, I did mean the mean average, or more properly, if you wish to be pedantic - the arithmetic mean average, instead of just "average".

IanCal 13y ago
I don't think I've ever seen a serious maths problem not be specific about the type of average they are referring to. In general speech, all three common types are meant (mode being the usual meaning of "the average/typical person...") and the context usually explains which someone means. > I will concede that yes, I did mean the mean average Which is fine, but you were complaining that someone else was wrong even though one obvious interpretation of their statement was correct.
- balabaster 13y ago
  I have never in my time in 8 years of math classes ever heard the term "average" referred to as the median or mode. When median or mode has been meant, it has always been explicitly stated as such. The more vague "average" being left to implicitly reference the arithmetic mean average of "sum total divided by count of values"
  - IanCal 13y ago
    > I have never in my time in 8 years of math classes ever heard the term "average" referred to as the median or mode. Good, I've never seen that too, as I said. > When median or mode has been meant, it has always been explicitly stated as such. As I said. > The more vague "average" being left to implicitly reference the arithmetic mean average of "sum total divided by count of values" This is not the case in common usage which is exactly the reason this comment thread started.
- balabaster 13y ago
  You know what I most like about Hacker News though? That instead of bitching about the content of the article, we're busy debating the semantics of mathematical definitions that infer the "average" person's impression of society than caring about the content of the article... that's pretty neat :P
  - IanCal 13y ago
    What? That was you! You complained about someone using an ambiguous word to refer to one of its meanings. > Er yeah, averages aren't made by half and half, they're made by dividing the sum by the count. It's quite possible to have 90% of the population be below average if the 10% is significantly above the average. I then replied saying that the parent was correct if he meant a specific type of average, subtly implying that you were being ridiculous for complaining about it. Now you're complaining about the thing you did?
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
    - balabaster 13y ago
      Er... that was just a statement of observation, I wasn't complaining trying to be a dick, merely passing comment :D

IanCal 13y ago

I don't think I've ever seen a serious maths problem not be specific about the type of average they are referring to. In general speech, all three common types are meant (mode being the usual meaning of "the average/typical person...") and the context usually explains which someone means. > I will concede that yes, I did mean the mean average Which is fine, but you were complaining that someone else was wrong even though one obvious interpretation of their statement was correct.

balabaster 13y ago
I have never in my time in 8 years of math classes ever heard the term "average" referred to as the median or mode. When median or mode has been meant, it has always been explicitly stated as such. The more vague "average" being left to implicitly reference the arithmetic mean average of "sum total divided by count of values"
- IanCal 13y ago
  > I have never in my time in 8 years of math classes ever heard the term "average" referred to as the median or mode. Good, I've never seen that too, as I said. > When median or mode has been meant, it has always been explicitly stated as such. As I said. > The more vague "average" being left to implicitly reference the arithmetic mean average of "sum total divided by count of values" This is not the case in common usage which is exactly the reason this comment thread started.
balabaster 13y ago
You know what I most like about Hacker News though? That instead of bitching about the content of the article, we're busy debating the semantics of mathematical definitions that infer the "average" person's impression of society than caring about the content of the article... that's pretty neat :P
- IanCal 13y ago
  What? That was you! You complained about someone using an ambiguous word to refer to one of its meanings. > Er yeah, averages aren't made by half and half, they're made by dividing the sum by the count. It's quite possible to have 90% of the population be below average if the 10% is significantly above the average. I then replied saying that the parent was correct if he meant a specific type of average, subtly implying that you were being ridiculous for complaining about it. Now you're complaining about the thing you did?
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
  - balabaster 13y ago
    Er... that was just a statement of observation, I wasn't complaining trying to be a dick, merely passing comment :D