What is an average?

The term average has a number of different meanings. Most generally, it is a single number that is used to represent a collection of numbers. In the context of mathematics, "average" refers to the mean, specifically, the arithmetic mean. It is a relatively simple statistical concept that is widely used in many areas.

The equation below is one of the more commonly understood definitions of the average:

Average = Sum/Count

where the sum is the result of adding all of the given numbers, and the count is the number of values being added. For example, given the 5 numbers, 2, 7, 19, 24, and 25, the average can be calculated as such:

Average = (2+7+19+24+25) / 5 = 77/5 = 15.4

How to calculate average

The average of a set of numbers is simply the sum of the numbers divided by the total number of values in the set. For example, suppose we want an average of 24,55, 17, 87 and 100. Simply find the sum of the numbers: 24 + 55 + 17 + 87 + 100 = 283 and divide by 5to get 56.6. A simple problem such as this one can be done by hand without too much trouble, but for more complex numbers involving many decimal places, it is more convenient to use this calculator.

What are the 4 averages?

The four averages are the mean, median, mode, and range. The mean is what you typically think as the average - found by summing all values and dividing the sum by the number of values. The median is the middle value of the set (or the average of the two middle values if the set is even). The mode is the piece of data that occurs the most, and the range is the difference between the highest and lowest values.

Why do we calculate average?

We calculate averages because they are a very useful way to present a large amount of data. Instead of having to trawl through hundreds or thousands of pieces of data, we have one number that succinctly summarises the whole set. While there are some problems with averages, such as outliers showing an inaccurate average, they are useful to compare data at a glance.

Why are averages misleading?

Averages can be misleading for a number of reasons. They best represent evenly distributed bell curves, where most results are found in the middle and few on the extremities. But even one very extreme point can change the average dramatically, so these anomalies are often excluded, but not always. Next, humans tend to interpret averages as being perfect representations, leading to a lack of desire to understand the nuances of the data. Lastly, we often use averages to predict individual cases, which are often wildly inaccurate.

Is average better than mode?

There is no easy answer to whether the average is better than the mode - it depends entirely on the data set in front of you. If the data is normally distributed and has no outliers, then you should probably use the average, as it will present you with the most representative value. The mode, however, is more robust and will present the most common value, regardless of any outliers. The mode should always be used with categorical data - that is, data with distinct groups - as the groups are not continuous.

How do you calculate the average percentage in Excel?

Although it is easier to use the Average Calculator, to you calculate average percentage in Excel:

1. Input your desired data, e.g., from cells A1 to A10.
2. Highlight all cells, right click, and select Format Cells.
3. In the Format Cells box, under Number, select Percentages and specify your desired number of decimal places.
4. In another cell, input =AVERAGE(cell 1, cell 2,…). In our example, this would be =AVERAGE(A1:A10).
5. Enjoy your average!

What is better, average or median?

Whether you should use the average or the median will depend on the data you are analyzing. If the data is normally distributed and has no outliers, then you should probably use the average, although the value will be quite similar to that for the median. If the data is heavily skewed, the median should be used as it is less effected by outliers.