Legal Definitions - average

Definition: A single value that represents a broad sample of subjects; especially in mathematics, the mean, median, or mode of a series. The ordinary or typical level; the norm. In maritime law, accidental partial loss or damage to an insured ship or its cargo during a voyage.

• Mathematics: If you have a set of numbers, you can find the average by adding them all up and dividing by the number of values. For example, the average of 2, 4, and 6 is (2+4+6)/3 = 4.
• Maritime Law: If a ship is damaged during a voyage, the cost of the damage may be shared among all parties involved in the voyage. This is called general average. For example, if a ship has to jettison some cargo to avoid sinking, the cost of the lost cargo may be shared among all parties involved in the voyage.

These examples illustrate how the term "average" can be used in different contexts. In mathematics, the average is a way to represent a set of numbers with a single value. In maritime law, the average is a way to share the cost of accidental damage or loss among all parties involved in a voyage.