How to Average, Count, Max, Min formula in MS Excel
AVERAGE
function
This article describes the formula syntax and
usage of the AVERAGE function in Microsoft Excel.
Description
Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the
arguments. For example, if the range A1:A20 contains numbers, the formula =AVERAGE(A1:A20)
returns the average of those numbers.
Syntax
AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)
The AVERAGE function syntax has the following
arguments:
·
Number1 Required.
The first number, cell reference, or range for which you want the average.
·
Number2, ... Optional.
Additional numbers, cell references or ranges for which you want the average,
up to a maximum of 255.
Remarks
·
Arguments can either be numbers or names, ranges, or cell
references that contain numbers.
·
Logical values and text representations of numbers that you type
directly into the list of arguments are not counted.
·
If a range or cell reference argument contains text, logical
values, or empty cells, those values are ignored; however, cells with the value
zero are included.
·
Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be
translated into numbers cause errors.
·
If you want to include logical values and text representations
of numbers in a reference as part of the calculation, use the AVERAGEA
function.
·
If you want to calculate the average of only the values that
meet certain criteria, use the AVERAGEIF function or the AVERAGEIFS
function.
Note: The AVERAGE function measures central tendency,
which is the location of the center of a group of numbers in a statistical
distribution. The three most common measures of central tendency are:
·
Average,
which is the arithmetic mean, and is calculated by adding a group of numbers
and then dividing by the count of those numbers. For example, the average of 2,
3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 30 divided by 6, which is 5.
·
Median, which is the middle
number of a group of numbers; that is, half the numbers have values that are
greater than the median, and half the numbers have values that are less than
the median. For example, the median of 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 4.
·
Mode, which is the most
frequently occurring number in a group of numbers. For example, the mode of 2,
3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 3.
For a symmetrical distribution of a group of
numbers, these three measures of central tendency are all the same. For a
skewed distribution of a group of numbers, they can be different.
Tip: When you average cells, keep in mind the difference
between empty cells and those containing the value zero, especially if you have
cleared the Show a zero in cells that have a zero value check box in the
Excel Options dialog box in the Excel desktop application. When this
option is selected, empty cells are not counted, but zero values are.
To locate the Show a zero in cells that
have a zero value check box:
·
On the File tab, click Options, and then, in the Advanced
category, look under Display options for this worksheet.
Example
Copy the example data in the following table,
and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results,
select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the
column widths to see all the data.
Data |
||
10 |
15 |
32 |
7 |
||
9 |
||
27 |
||
2 |
Formula |
Description |
Result |
=AVERAGE(A2:A6) |
Average of the numbers in cells A2 through
A6. |
11 |
=AVERAGE(A2:A6, 5) |
Average of the numbers in cells A2 through
A6 and the number 5. |
10 |
=AVERAGE(A2:C2) |
Average of the numbers in cells A2 through
C2. |
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