Module 4 · Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries Lesson 32 of 120
Arithmetic Mean
The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation.
Transcript
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If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
Code lab
Run it yourself
The lesson source in 7 languages. Edit it, run TypeScript and Python right here, and compare with the expected output.
/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
* Arithmetic Mean
* Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
*
* Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
* Rule: mean = Σx/n
*
* Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson032() {
const hours = [1, 2, 2, 4, 9];
const total = hours.reduce((s,x) => s+x,0);
const average = total / hours.length;
const centeredSum = hours.reduce((s,x) => s+x-average,0);
const result = {average, centeredSum};
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = {"average":3.6,"centeredSum":-4.440892098500626e-16};
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/04-location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/032-arithmetic-mean.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson032(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}# Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
# Arithmetic Mean
# Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
#
# Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
# Rule: mean = Σx/n
#
# Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
#
# Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
# Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
# Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import json
def lesson032() -> dict:
hours = [1, 2, 2, 4, 9]
total = sum(hours)
average = total / len(hours)
# Accumulate left to right, as the lesson does, so the rounding residue is visible.
centered_sum = 0.0
for x in hours:
centered_sum = centered_sum + x - average
return {"average": average, "centeredSum": centered_sum}
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson032(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
* Arithmetic Mean
* Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
*
* Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
* Rule: mean = Σx/n
*
* Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
static Map<String, Object> lesson032() {
double[] hours = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double total = 0;
for (double x : hours) total += x;
double average = total / hours.length;
double centeredSum = 0;
for (double x : hours) centeredSum = centeredSum + x - average;
Map<String, Object> result = new LinkedHashMap<String, Object>();
result.put("average", average);
result.put("centeredSum", centeredSum);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson032(), ""));
}
// --- Minimal JSON printer: maps keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof String) return "\"" + value + "\"";
if (value instanceof Double) return formatNumber((Double) value);
if (value instanceof Number) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> items = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double v : (double[]) value) items.add(v);
return toJson(items, indent);
}
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
sb.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
sb.append(inner).append('"').append(entry.getKey()).append("\": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner))
.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append('}').toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
sb.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
sb.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner))
.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append(']').toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double v) {
if (Double.isNaN(v) || Double.isInfinite(v)) return "null";
if (v == Math.rint(v) && Math.abs(v) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) v);
return Double.toString(v);
}
}
No browser runner for Java yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
// Arithmetic Mean
// Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
//
// Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
// Rule: mean = Σx/n
//
// Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
)
// MeanResult holds the mean and the sum of deviations around it (zero, up to rounding).
type MeanResult struct {
Average float64 `json:"average"`
CenteredSum float64 `json:"centeredSum"`
}
func lesson032() MeanResult {
hours := []float64{1, 2, 2, 4, 9}
total := 0.0
for _, x := range hours {
total += x
}
average := total / float64(len(hours))
centeredSum := 0.0
for _, x := range hours {
centeredSum = centeredSum + x - average
}
return MeanResult{Average: average, CenteredSum: centeredSum}
}
func main() {
out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(lesson032(), "", " ")
fmt.Println(string(out))
}
No browser runner for Go yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
* Arithmetic Mean
* Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
*
* Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
* Rule: mean = Σx/n
*
* Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
#include <charconv>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Number, Text, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
double number = 0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
};
Json num(double v) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Number; j.number = v; return j; }
Json str(const std::string& s) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Text; j.text = s; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<Json>& values) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Array; j.items = values; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<double>& values) {
std::vector<Json> items;
for (double v : values) items.push_back(num(v));
return arr(items);
}
Json obj(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json j;
j.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& [key, value] : fields) { j.keys.push_back(key); j.items.push_back(value); }
return j;
}
std::string formatNumber(double v) {
if (!std::isfinite(v)) return "null";
char buf[64];
auto end = std::to_chars(buf, buf + sizeof buf, v).ptr; // shortest round-trip form
return std::string(buf, end);
}
void writeJson(std::ostream& out, const Json& j, const std::string& indent) {
switch (j.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: out << "null"; return;
case Json::Kind::Number: out << formatNumber(j.number); return;
case Json::Kind::Text: out << '"' << j.text << '"'; return;
default: break;
}
bool isObject = j.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (j.items.empty()) { out << (isObject ? "{}" : "[]"); return; }
std::string inner = indent + " ";
out << (isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n");
for (size_t i = 0; i < j.items.size(); ++i) {
out << inner;
if (isObject) out << '"' << j.keys[i] << "\": ";
writeJson(out, j.items[i], inner);
out << (i + 1 < j.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
out << indent << (isObject ? '}' : ']');
}
// --- Lesson ---
Json lesson032() {
const std::vector<double> hours = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double total = 0;
for (double x : hours) total += x;
double average = total / hours.size();
double centeredSum = 0;
for (double x : hours) centeredSum = centeredSum + x - average;
return obj({{"average", num(average)}, {"centeredSum", num(centeredSum)}});
}
int main() {
writeJson(std::cout, lesson032(), "");
std::cout << '\n';
}
No browser runner for C++ yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
// Arithmetic Mean
// Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
//
// Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
// Rule: mean = Σx/n
//
// Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn format_number(v: f64) -> String {
if !v.is_finite() {
return "null".to_string();
}
if v.fract() == 0.0 && v.abs() < 1e15 {
return format!("{}", v as i64);
}
format!("{:?}", v) // shortest round-trip form
}
impl Json {
fn render(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Num(v) => format_number(*v),
Json::Str(s) => format!("\"{}\"", s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = items.iter().map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.render(&inner))).collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}\"{}\": {}", inner, k, v.render(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
// --- Lesson ---
fn lesson032() -> Json {
let hours: [f64; 5] = [1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 4.0, 9.0];
let total: f64 = hours.iter().sum();
let average = total / hours.len() as f64;
let centered_sum = hours.iter().fold(0.0, |s, &x| s + x - average);
obj(vec![("average", Json::Num(average)), ("centeredSum", Json::Num(centered_sum))])
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson032().render(""));
}
No browser runner for Rust yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 032 of 120
* Arithmetic Mean
* Module 04: Location, Ranking, and Exploratory Summaries
*
* Scenario: The mean as a balance point, not a typical actual observation
* Rule: mean = Σx/n
*
* Try it: If one observation increases by 10 in a five-row sample, how much does the mean increase?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/location-ranking-and-exploratory-summaries/arithmetic-mean/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson032(), options));
static object Lesson032()
{
double[] hours = { 1, 2, 2, 4, 9 };
double total = hours.Sum();
double average = total / hours.Length;
double centeredSum = hours.Aggregate(0.0, (s, x) => s + x - average);
return new { average, centeredSum };
}
No browser runner for C# yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"average": 3.6,
"centeredSum": -4.440892098500626e-16
}Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
mean = Σx/n