Define the term mode. What are its merits and demerits?

Mode is a measure of central tendency of statistical series. Mode is the most frequently occurring value in a series. It is typical value around which of the item stand to cluster. It is the representative value of a series around which there is maximum concentration.

Merits of Mode : The followings are the merits of mode:

(i) Simpler and popular : Mode is very simple measure of central tendency and a glance of the series is enough to locate the model value.

(ii) Less effects of extreme marginal values : It is less affected by extreme and marginal values as compared to mean values.

(iii) Best representation: Mode is the best representation of the series because it occurs most frequently in the series.

(iv) Knowledge of all frequencies not essential: It is sufficient to know the item with highest frequency in the distribution.

(v) Practical utility : Mode is practically useful.

(vi) Graphic determination : Mode can be determined graphically also. This makes it very simple and easy to understand.