Mode, in statistics, is that value in any group of numbers that occurs most frequently. Suppose a boy counts the eggs in 77 birds’ nests. He finds that 4 nests have 1 egg each, 65 have 2 eggs each, 5 have 3 eggs, and 3 have 4 eggs. The nests that contain 2 eggs are by far the most common. Thus, 2 is the mode, or modal value, in this group. Statisticians use the mode in analyzing and interpreting numerical data. See also Average ; Mean ; Median ; Statistics (Probability) .
