Find the mode of the set {2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7, 8}.

The mode of a set of numbers is defined as the value that appears most frequently within that set. In the given set {2, 3, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7, 8}, we can analyze the frequency of each number.

• The number 2 appears once.

• The number 3 appears twice.

• The number 5 appears once.

• The number 7 appears three times.

• The number 8 appears once.

By comparing the frequencies, it is clear that the number 7 has the highest frequency, appearing three times, while all other numbers appear fewer times than that. Therefore, 7 is the mode of the set, as it is the number that occurs most frequently.

This understanding of frequency allows us to identify the mode effectively, which is crucial for working with statistical data and understanding patterns in numerical sets. Other numbers in the set do not match this highest frequency and therefore cannot be considered modes.