How it is calculated
The geometric mean and the harmonic mean need numbers greater than zero. Zero and negative values are not averaged in those two ways.
Geometric mean = the nth root of the product
Where the numbers come from
- Numbers
Example
The numbers 1, 2, and 4. The arithmetic mean is 7/3 ≈ 2,333, the geometric mean is 2, and the harmonic mean is 12/7 ≈ 1,714.
Questions
When do I need the harmonic mean?
For mean speeds over equal stretches of a route, and for mean prices in some problems.
Two identical numbers?
All three means will match.
How is it different from the ordinary mean?
The ordinary average in the catalog is only the arithmetic mean, and it places no limit on the sign.