Average

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
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Slava
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Average

Postby Slava » Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:53 pm

Well, I suspect we all know this word in its current usage, but do many of us know that it does not directly relate to mathematics, but to shipping?

Originally, average was a standard charge applied to damages incurred in shipping. The -age suffix is quite widely used, as in tonnage, pilotage, etc. It has, however, been hijacked by math. The average expectation of loss during shipping has become the average we now all know and love.
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Philip Hudson
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Re: Average

Postby Philip Hudson » Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:57 am

Averages come in at least three favors. The vanilla flavor is the mean. Then there is the medium and the mode. The mathematical mode is different from Pie à la Mode, but not as satisfying.
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Perry Lassiter
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Re: Average

Postby Perry Lassiter » Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:17 pm

Philip, that's just mean!
pl


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