[Maths-Education] Request: references about the history of averages

[Peter Cave]

Re 'mean, median and mode', I think you will find that there are national
traditions in these things.  A quick flick through Japanese textbooks for
the 11-15 age group suggests that they teach about mean and about
distribution.  I do not think they teach explicitly about median and mode,
but would have to look at them more carefully to be sure.  I
(non-mathematician since 16) never really understood the point of 'mode'
anyway.  Is it the influence of alliteration?

Peter Cave
M.A., M.Phil., D.Phil. (Oxon)
Assistant Professor
Department of Japanese Studies
The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2859-2879
Fax: (852) 2548-7399
petercav@hkucc.hku.hk