Absolute Deviation Calculator
Calculate the mean absolute deviation (MAD) of a set of numbers. Enter numbers separated by commas or spaces to find the average distance from the mean.
Published by:
isCalculator Editorial Team
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How to use this tool?
Follow these steps to calculate the Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) for a set of numbers:
- Enter your numbers in the text area. Separate them by commas or spaces (e.g.,
2, 4, 6, 8or2 4 6 8). - Click the Calculate button (or press Enter while in the input field).
- View the results:
- Mean – the average of your numbers.
- Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) – the average distance of each number from the mean.
- Expand the Steps section to see the detailed calculation, including the mean, absolute deviations, and MAD formula.
Note: The calculator accepts any real numbers (positive, negative, or decimals). No specific unit (metric/imperial) is required – just numeric values.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Absolute deviation measures the distance between each data point and the mean. The mean absolute deviation (MAD) is the average of these absolute deviations.
Find the mean of the data set, then compute the absolute value of the difference between each data point and the mean. Finally, average these absolute differences.
MAD uses absolute differences, while standard deviation squares the differences. MAD is less sensitive to outliers than standard deviation.
Yes, the calculator supports negative numbers. They are handled correctly in the mean and absolute deviation calculations.
