Question Video: Finding the Missing Data Value in a Data Set given the Mode Mathematics • First Year of Preparatory School

Video Transcript

Given that the mode of the values 13, 12, 18, eight, and 𝑎 is 12, find the value of 𝑎.

To solve this problem, we’ll need to remember what the word “mode” means. The mode of a set of values is the number which appears most often. In our list, we have 13, 12, 18, eight, and the missing value 𝑎. We’re told that the mode is 12. And that means 12 is repeated most often.

If you look closely at the list, you realize that nothing is repeated. In order for 12 to be the mode, it needs to be repeated and that means the missing value must be 12. If 𝑎 is 12, then the mode of this list is 12.