MODE (Returns the most common value in a data set)

What Does It Do?

This function displays the most frequently occurring number in a group of numbers.

For it to work correctly there must be at least two numbers which are the same.

If all the values in the group are unique the function shows the error #N/A.

When there is more than one set of duplicates, the number closest to the beginning of the group will be used. (Which is not really an accurate answer!)

Syntax

=MODE(Range1,Range2,Range3... through to Range30)

Formatting

No special formatting is needed.

Example

The following table shows garments sold in a clothes shop.

The shopkeeper wants to keep track of the most commonly sold size.

The =MODE() function has been used to calulate this.

Note

If the =AVERAGE() function had been used the answer would have been :           9.7

This figure is of no benefit to the shopkeeper as there are no garmets of this size!