The mean deviation is the average of the absolute differences from the mean. First, calculate the mean of the numbers:
µ=‌=5.Now, calculate the absolute differences from the mean:
|3−5|=2,‌‌|4−5|=1,‌‌|5−5|=0,‌‌|6−5|=1,‌‌|7−5|=2.
The mean deviation is the average of these differences:
‌ Mean Deviation ‌=‌=‌=1.2. Quick Tip
To calculate the mean deviation, subtract the mean from each number, take the absolute value, and then find the average of those values.