To find the mean, we first need to multiply the number of pairs of shoes by the number of 6th graders and then sum up the results:
2 pairs * 5 6th graders = 10
3 pairs * 6 6th graders = 18
4 pairs * 1 6th grader = 4
5 pairs * 1 6th grader = 5
6 pairs * 4 6th graders = 24
7 pairs * 7 6th graders = 49
8 pairs * 2 6th graders = 16
10 pairs * 1 6th grader = 10
Adding up all these results, we get a total of 126 pairs of shoes owned by the 6th graders surveyed.
To find the mean, we divide this total by the total number of 6th graders surveyed, which is 26:
Mean = 126 pairs / 26 6th graders = 4.846
Rounding to the nearest whole number, the mean number of pairs of shoes owned by the 6th graders surveyed is 5.