How is Mode like your Commode? (#65)


How is Mode like your Commode?

In elementary school my math teacher would ask us “What is the most used object in your home? Your commode (toilet)!” Your commode aka “mode” of a data set is the number you most often see.

Let’s say you look at a group of data on a graph. There may be some outlying data points, but the cluster of data points will most often focus around one data value or area. This is what we would call Central Tendency. A definition of Central Tendency is the central (typical) value of a probability distribution. You would use Central Tendency when determining what the central value of a group of data would be.

Reflecting back to fond memories (just kidding) of grade school math, you’ll remember that there are three basic values used to teach students about groups of numbers. In Six Sigma, we use these values to measure Central Tendency. These measurements are:

Mean; the sum of all the numbers in the data set divided by the amount of numbers represented.

Median; the very middle number of the data set (if there are two middle numbers, the median value would be the average of the two numbers).

Mode; the number most represented in the data set.

Today, I want to talk to you about your commode, I mean Mode of Distribution 😊.

As we found earlier, our mode is the value most often represented within a set of data (Central Tendency). If there are two different numbers that are equally represented, we would call the representation “Bi-modal.” Check out some examples below.

Data Set #1

1, 3, 5, 7, 7, 9, 11, 13

Mode: 7

Data Set # 2

2, 4, 6, 6, 8, 10, 10, 12

Bi-modal: 6, 10



Why should you use Mode to measure Central Tendency?

Not all sets of data will be the same. Using mode to determine Central Tendency is helpful when your data set is more than one cluster (multi modal), biased or extremely skewed, or it is mandatory to dispose of outlying data.

Let us know about your experience using Mode as a Measure of Central Tendency! We would love to hear from you!

About Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.
We are Certified as an Accredited Training Organization with the International Association of Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)
“The IASSC Accredited Training Organization (ATO) designation validates Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. has demonstrated adequate management systems, courseware with a high degree of correlation to the subject matter contained in the IASSC Bodies of Knowledge, delivery schema consistent with such content and highly qualified instructors.”
We Provide Public Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Training Courses in 34 Cities across the globe.
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We Provide Onsite Lean Six Sigma Certification Training. Some of the training's we provide are: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Lean Six Sigma Champions Training and Lean Certifications for Healthcare, Finance, I.T, Manufacturing, Processing, Logistics, Retail Sales and Government.
SSDSI will come to your site to train for your choice of the Lean Six Sigma Certification Levels. Onsite training is more cost effective than open enrollment training when training larger groups of team members.
Benefits of Onsite Training:
The Training is focused on Your Opportunities
SSDSI uses your opportunities in class (vs. generic examples)
You will get the experience of a seasoned Lean and Six Sigma Master Black Belt who will help mentor you while completing your Lean and Six Sigma Project
You can train up to 20 employees for one fixed cost (this cost includes course ware and the instructors travel & lodging)
Our courses are full of games, simulations, and active learning to help the adult learner
SSDSI can customize the training to meet your company’s particular training needs
Call Kevin Clay at 214-731-3176 or email at kclay@sixsigmadsi.com for more information

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