ABSTRACT
This chapter walks educators through a quick review of how the most common types of averages such as mean, median and mode, are calculated and tips for recognizing when they are misrepresented. It offers opportunities to review multiple examples of claims supported by averages to decide if those averages represent truthful information. The chapter provides a set of questions for reflection and a list of suggested resources. The concept of averages is introduced to students as young as Grade 3, making it an idea most people are familiar with to some degree. The chapter provides a few examples of how averages can be manipulated to misinform consumers. In the case of averages, students need to remember how to calculate them. They also need opportunities to think about what the different averages represent and how they can be used to inform others. The nice thing about averages is they reduce a lot of numbers down to one.
