What’s the difference between “SUM” and “MEAN” functions in SAS?

Understanding the Difference Between "SUM" and "MEAN" Functions in SAS

When working with SAS programming, it is essential to grasp the distinctions between the "SUM" and "MEAN" functions, as they serve different purposes in data manipulation and analysis.

Focus Keyword: SAS Functions

SUM Function:

The "SUM" function in SAS calculates the total sum of a specified numeric variable within a dataset. It adds up all the values of the variable, providing a cumulative total. This function is useful for obtaining the overall sum of a variable, such as total sales, expenses, or quantities.

MEAN Function:

On the other hand, the "MEAN" function in SAS computes the average or mean of a numeric variable. It calculates the total sum of the variable values and then divides it by the number of observations, resulting in the average value. The mean is a measure of central tendency and is commonly used to understand the typical value within a dataset.

Therefore, while the "SUM" function gives the total sum of values, the "MEAN" function provides the average value of a numeric variable in SAS.

It is important to select the appropriate function based on your analytical needs and the specific insights you want to derive from your data in SAS.