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.
Average
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Average
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.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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