The mean is the arithmetic average of numerical values: add the values and divide by how many values you have. It provides a quick summary for descriptive analysis, but unusual values can make it less representative. section 3.3 section 2.6.3
Use the mean to turn many observations into a single reference point, then inspect the distribution before treating it as typical. In business analysis, summaries like this can support decisions about stock, staffing, and promotions. section 3.3 section 2.6.3
Average review response time
A review dataset records the time between review creation and answer. Its summary reports a mean of 272,073 seconds, while the median is 144,715 seconds and the maximum is 44,815,610 seconds. The gap suggests that the mean should be read alongside the distribution rather than treated as the typical response time by itself. section 2.6.3
