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Geometric Mean Calculator

The geometric mean multiplies all the values together and takes the nth root. It is the right average for things that compound — growth rates, investment returns and ratios — where the arithmetic mean overstates the result.

Your numbers

Positive numbers, separated by commas.

Result

Geometric mean
8
Arithmetic mean (for comparison)
14
Count
3
Result
MeasureValue
Count of values3
Geometric mean8
Arithmetic mean14
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How it is calculated

For n numbers, the geometric mean is the nth root of their product: for 2, 8, 32 it is the cube root of 2 x 8 x 32 = 512, which is 8. It is always less than or equal to the arithmetic mean, and it only works for positive numbers.

When to use it

Use the geometric mean for rates that multiply: average annual growth, compound returns, or averaging ratios and index numbers. If an investment grows 10% then 30%, the average growth is the geometric mean of 1.10 and 1.30, not their simple average.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

  • Geometric mean (nth root of a product)

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