The mean is the average value for a set of values. Our calculator works by adding up all the values and dividing the result by the number of values. What is mean in math? A mean represents the average value of a sample, which consists of two or more data values. We often use it interchangeably with the term average, although there are a few key differences between the two terms. The term average should only be used interchangeably with the arithmetic mean. There are three types of mean in math