Mean Absolute Deviation Calculator
Calculate mean absolute deviation (MAD) for any dataset. Find data spread around the mean or median with step-by-step calculations, deviation tables, and visualizations.
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Mean Absolute Deviation Calculator - MAD Calculator
Calculate mean absolute deviation (MAD) to measure how spread out your data is from the central point. Choose between mean or median as the center, view detailed deviation tables, and understand your data distribution with step-by-step calculations.
What is Mean Absolute Deviation?
Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) is a measure of variability that describes the average distance between each data point and the mean (or median) of the dataset. Unlike variance and standard deviation which square the differences, MAD uses absolute values, making it more intuitive and less sensitive to outliers. MAD is often preferred in education and practical applications because it's easier to interpret - it tells you the average 'distance' from the center in the same units as your data.
MAD Formula
MAD = (1/n) × Σ|xᵢ - x̄|How to Calculate MAD
Applications of Mean Absolute Deviation
Quality Control
Monitor manufacturing consistency by measuring how much product measurements deviate from specifications.
Financial Analysis
Assess investment risk and portfolio volatility in terms of average deviation from expected returns.
Weather Forecasting
Evaluate forecast accuracy by calculating average deviation between predictions and actual temperatures.
Academic Research
Measure data consistency in experiments and surveys with a robust, outlier-resistant statistic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both measure spread, but standard deviation squares the differences (giving more weight to outliers) while MAD uses absolute values. For normal distributions, MAD ≈ 0.8 × standard deviation. MAD is more intuitive as it's in original units and less sensitive to extreme values.