MODE Function in Excel

Part 1: Introduce

Definition

The MODE function in Excel calculates the mode of a set of numbers. The way is the value that appears most frequently in a data set.

Purpose

The MODE function aims to identify the most common value in a dataset, which can be helpful in various statistical analyses and business applications.

Syntax & Arguments

syntax

=MODE(number1, [number2], ...)

number1: Required. The first number, cell reference, or range for which you want to find the mode.
number2, …: Optional. Additional numbers, cell references, or ranges up to 254.

Explain the Arguments in the Function

number1, number2, …: These are the numbers for which you want to find the mode. You can specify individual numbers, cell references, or ranges.

Return Value

The MODE function returns the mode of the given numbers.

Remarks

The MODE function returns the most miniature mode if there are multiple modes.
If no way is found, the function returns an #N/A error.

Part 2: Examples

Example 1

Purpose of Example: Find the most common sales figure among three products.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C
1 Product Sales Mode
2 A 100
3 B 100
4 C 200 =MODE(B2:B4)
100
Explanation: The mode of the sales figures is 100, as it appears most frequently in the data.

	A	B	C
1	Product	Sales	Mode
2	A	100
3	B	100
4	C	200	=MODE(B2:B4)
			100

Example 2

Purpose of Example: To find the most common age among employees in a department.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C
1 Employee Age Mode
2 John 30
3 Sarah 30
4 Mike 25 =MODE(B2:B4)
30
Explanation: The mode age is 30, the most common age among employees.

	A	B	C
1	Employee	Age	Mode
2	John	30
3	Sarah	30
4	Mike	25	=MODE(B2:B4)
			30

Example 3

Purpose of Example: To find the most common rating for a product.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C
1 Customer Rating Mode
2 Alice 4
3 Bob 5
4 Charlie 4 =MODE(B2:B4)
4
Explanation: The mode of the ratings is 4, as it’s the most common rating given by customers.

	A	B	C
1	Customer	Rating	Mode
2	Alice	4
3	Bob	5
4	Charlie	4	=MODE(B2:B4)
			4

Example 4

Purpose of Example: Find the most common temperature reading in a week.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C
1 Day Temperature Mode
2 Mon 72
3 Tue 72
4 Wed 68 =MODE(B2:B4)
72
Explanation: The mode of the temperatures is 72, as it’s the most common temperature reading during the week.

	A	B	C
1	Day	Temperature	Mode
2	Mon	72
3	Tue	72
4	Wed	68	=MODE(B2:B4)
			72

Example 5

Purpose of Example: To find the most common price among different products.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C
1 Product Price Mode
2 P1 $20
3 P2 $30
4 P3 $20 =MODE(B2:B4)
$20
Explanation: The mode of the prices is $20, as it’s the most common price among the products.

	A	B	C
1	Product	Price	Mode
2	P1	$20
3	P2	$30
4	P3	$20	=MODE(B2:B4)
			$20

Example 6: Using MODE with IF

Purpose of Example: To find the most common salary among employees in a specific department.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D
1 Employee Salary Department Mode
2 John $40,000 HR
3 Sarah $55,000 Sales
4 Mike $40,000 HR
5 =MODE(IF(C2:C4=”HR”,B2:B4))
$40,000
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the salaries for the HR department. Using the IF function within MODE, we can filter the wages based on the department. The most common salary for the HR department is $40,000.

	A	B	C	D
1	Employee	Salary	Department	Mode
2	John	$40,000	HR
3	Sarah	$55,000	Sales
4	Mike	$40,000	HR
5				=MODE(IF(C2:C4=”HR”,B2:B4))
				$40,000

Example 7: Using MODE with SUM

Purpose of Example: To find the most common total sales for three products over three months.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D E
1 Product Jan Feb Mar Mode
2 A 100 100 200
3 B 100 200 200
4 C 200 200 200
5 =MODE(SUM(B2:D2), SUM(B3:D3), SUM(B4:D4))
600
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the total sales for three products over three months. Using the SUM function within MODE, we can sum the sales for each product and then find the most common total sales value. The most common total sales value is 600.

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Product	Jan	Feb	Mar	Mode
2	A	100	100	200
3	B	100	200	200
4	C	200	200	200
5					=MODE(SUM(B2:D2), SUM(B3:D3), SUM(B4:D4))
					600

Example 8: Using MODE with VLOOKUP

Purpose of Example: To find the most common price for a specific category of products.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D
1 Product Price Category Mode
2 P1 $10 A
3 P2 $20 B
4 P3 $10 A
5 P4 $20 B
6 =MODE(VLOOKUP(“A”, A2:C5, 2, FALSE), VLOOKUP(“B”, A2:C5, 2, FALSE))
$10
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the prices for products in categories A and B. By using the VLOOKUP function within MODE, we can find the price for each type and then calculate the most common price. The most common price for these categories is $10.

	A	B	C	D
1	Product	Price	Category	Mode
2	P1	$10	A
3	P2	$20	B
4	P3	$10	A
5	P4	$20	B
6				=MODE(VLOOKUP(“A”, A2:C5, 2, FALSE), VLOOKUP(“B”, A2:C5, 2, FALSE))
				$10

Example 9: Using MODE with AVERAGE

Purpose of Example: To find students’ most common average score in three subjects.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D E
1 Student Math Sci Eng Mode
2 Alice 80 70 60
3 Bob 70 70 60
4 Charlie 60 70 60
5 =MODE(AVERAGE(B2:D2), AVERAGE(B3:D3), AVERAGE(B4:D4))
70
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the average scores for three students across three subjects. Using the AVERAGE function within MODE, we can find the average score for each student and then calculate the most common average score. The most common average score is 70.

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Student	Math	Sci	Eng	Mode
2	Alice	80	70	60
3	Bob	70	70	60
4	Charlie	60	70	60
5					=MODE(AVERAGE(B2:D2), AVERAGE(B3:D3), AVERAGE(B4:D4))
					70

Example 10: Using MODE with MAX

Purpose of Example: To find three cities’ most common maximum temperatures.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D E
1 City Jan Feb Mar Mode
2 City A 30 32 28
3 City B 28 32 29
4 City C 29 32 30
5 =MODE(MAX(B2:D2), MAX(B3:D3), MAX(B4:D4))
32
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the maximum temperatures for three cities over three months. Using the MAX function within MODE, we can find the maximum temperature for each city and then calculate the most common maximum temperature. The most common maximum temperature is 32.

	A	B	C	D	E
1	City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Mode
2	City A	30	32	28
3	City B	28	32	29
4	City C	29	32	30
5					=MODE(MAX(B2:D2), MAX(B3:D3), MAX(B4:D4))
					32

Example 11: Using MODE with MIN

Purpose of Example: To find three products’ most common minimum sales.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D E
1 Product Jan Feb Mar Mode
2 A 100 100 200
3 B 100 200 200
4 C 200 200 200
5 =MODE(MIN(B2:D2), MIN(B3:D3), MIN(B4:D4))
100
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of the minimum sales for three products over three months. Using the MIN function within MODE, we can find the minimum deals for each product and then calculate the most common minimum sales value. The most common minimum sales value is 100.

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Product	Jan	Feb	Mar	Mode
2	A	100	100	200
3	B	100	200	200
4	C	200	200	200
5					=MODE(MIN(B2:D2), MIN(B3:D3), MIN(B4:D4))
					100

Example 12: Using MODE with COUNT

Purpose of Example: Find the most common sales count above a certain threshold for three products.
Data Tables and Formulas:
A B C D E
1 Product Jan Feb Mar Mode
2 A 100 200 300
3 B 200 300 400
4 C 300 400 500
5 =MODE(COUNTIF(B2:D2,”>200″), COUNTIF(B3:D3,”>200″), COUNTIF(B4:D4,”>200″))
3
Explanation: This example calculates the mode of sales count above 200 for three products over three months. Using the COUNTIF function within MODE, we can estimate the sales above the threshold for each product and then calculate the most common count. The most common count is 3.

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Product	Jan	Feb	Mar	Mode
2	A	100	200	300
3	B	200	300	400
4	C	300	400	500
5					=MODE(COUNTIF(B2:D2,”>200″), COUNTIF(B3:D3,”>200″), COUNTIF(B4:D4,”>200″))
					3

Part 3: Tips and Tricks

Use Named Ranges: You can use named ranges in the MODE function for better readability.
Handle Errors: If you expect that there might be no mode in your data, you can use the IFERROR function to handle the #N/A error.
Combine with Other Functions: You can nest the MODE function with other functions like IF to find the mode based on certain conditions.
Consider Using MODE.MULT: If you want to find all modes in a data set, consider using the MODE.MULT function.

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