What is a mode?

The mode is the number or item that shows up most frequently in a set of data. A set can have one mode, more than one mode, or no mode at all if nothing repeats. It is one of the three main averages, alongside the mean and the median.

Examples

• In 2, 3, 3, 5, 7 the mode is 3.
• In 1, 1, 2, 4, 4 there are two modes: 1 and 4.
• In 1, 2, 3, 4 there is no mode (nothing repeats).

Quick facts

• The mode is the only average that works for non-number data, like favourite colours.
• Mode, mean and median are the three kinds of average.