Legal Definitions - mean

When used in a legal or formal context, the term mean refers to:

• An intermediate point or position located between two extremes.
• An average or typical value, size, or quantity.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of mean:

• Example 1: During a complex property dispute, the judge encouraged both parties to find a mean settlement figure, somewhere between the plaintiff's high demand and the defendant's low offer, to avoid a lengthy trial.

  Explanation: In this scenario, mean refers to an intermediate or middle ground, a compromise position that lies between two opposing financial figures.

• Example 2: A labor economist might analyze the mean hourly wage for a specific industry to determine if the typical compensation aligns with living wage standards.

  Explanation: Here, mean signifies the statistical average, calculated by summing all hourly wages and dividing by the number of workers, representing the typical wage within that industry.

• Example 3: When assessing the impact of a new zoning regulation, urban planners might consider the mean number of residents per dwelling in a neighborhood to predict the demand for public services like schools and waste collection.

  Explanation: This use of mean refers to the typical or average quantity – the most common number of residents found in dwellings – which helps in forecasting community needs and resource allocation.