Python Machine Learning - Mean Median Mode

What can we learn from looking at a group of numbers?

Mean, Median, and Mode

What can we learn from looking at a group of numbers?

In Machine Learning (and in mathematics) there are often three values that interests us:

  • Mean - The average value
  • Median - The mid point value
  • Mode - The most common value
  • Example: We have registered the speed of 13 cars:

    speed = [99,86,87,88,111,86,103,87,94,78,77,85,86]

    What is the average, the middle, or the most common speed value?

    Mean

    The mean value is the average value.

    To calculate the mean, find the sum of all values, and divide the sum by the number of values:

    (99+86+87+88+111+86+103+87+94+78+77+85+86) / 13 = 89.77

    The NumPy module has a method for this. Learn about the NumPy module in our NumPy Tutorial.

    Example

    Use the NumPy mean() method to find the average speed:

    import numpy

    speed = [99,86,87,88,111,86,103,87,94,78,77,85,86]

    x = numpy.mean(speed)

    print(x)

    Median

    The median value is the value in the middle, after you have sorted all the values:

    code.strong { border-bottom: 3px double red; color:red; font-size:150%; } .darktheme code.strong { border-bottom: 3px double #88c999!important; color:#88c999!important; } code.underlined { border-bottom: 1px solid red; color:red; } .darktheme code.underlined { border-bottom: 1px solid #88c999!important; color:#88c999!important; }

    77, 78, 85, 86, 86, 86, 87, 87, 88, 94, 99, 103, 111

    It is important that the numbers are sorted before you can find the median.

    The NumPy module has a method for this:

    Example

    Use the NumPy median() method to find the middle value:

    import numpy

    speed = [99,86,87,88,111,86,103,87,94,78,77,85,86]

    x = numpy.median(speed)

    print(x)

    If there are two numbers in the middle, divide the sum of those numbers by two.

    77, 78, 85, 86, 86, 86, 87, 87, 94, 98, 99, 103

    (86 + 87) / 2 =
    86.5

    Example

    Using the NumPy module:

    import numpy

    speed = [99,86,87,88,86,103,87,94,78,77,85,86]

    x = numpy.median(speed)

    print(x)

    Mode

    The Mode value is the value that appears the most number of times:

    99,86, 87, 88, 111,86, 103, 87, 94, 78, 77, 85,86 = 86

    The SciPy module has a method for this. Learn about the SciPy module in our SciPy Tutorial.

    Example

    Use the SciPy mode() method to find the number that appears the most:

    from scipy import stats

    speed = [99,86,87,88,111,86,103,87,94,78,77,85,86]

    x = stats.mode(speed)

    print(x)

    Chapter Summary

    The Mean, Median, and Mode are techniques that are often used in Machine Learning, so it is important to understand the concept behind them.