This document compares and contrasts the arithmetic mean, median, and mode. It outlines the merits and demerits of each measure of central tendency. The arithmetic mean is summarized as the most stable and capable of algebraic treatment, as it uses all observations in its calculation. However, it can be affected by extreme values. The median and mode are not as capable mathematically but are not impacted by outliers in the same way. Overall, the document concludes that the mean is the best average.