← Years 5–6 Data & Information

The AVERAGE function

A spreadsheet function that adds up the numbers in cells B2 to B10 and divides by how many there are, to find the mean (the typical value). It is not the total.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 25, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 11, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 64, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 23, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 2, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 48, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 15, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 13

Understanding The AVERAGE function in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: The AVERAGE function with the range C2:C8 finds the mean of the scores, which shows the typical value. AVERAGE adds the four scores to get 32 and divides by 4 to give 8. The formula does this in one step. Average (the mean) is the total divided by the count. Only adding them up gives the total, not the average. The total is 30 and there are 5 numbers, so 30 ÷ 5 = 6. The 30 is the total, not the average. The typical score is the average. The sum would only tell you every score added together. Every formula must start with an equals sign =, otherwise the spreadsheet treats it as plain text.

Common mistakes: A formula must start with =. Without it the spreadsheet shows the text instead of working out the mean. It should be =AVERAGE(B2:B10). The function name is spelled wrong. The spreadsheet does not know AVRAGE. It should be =AVERAGE(B2:B4).

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
Which formula finds the average of the numbers in cells B2 to B10?
=AVERAGE B2 to B10=AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Matches
AVERAGE(B2:B10)
↓
The formula is missing the = sign at the start, so the spreadsheet treats it as plain text and does not calculate it
Applying
Meanings
Term
=AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Meaning
A spreadsheet function that adds up the numbers in cells B2 to B10 and divides by how many there are, to find the mean (the typical value). It is not the total.
Practice
=AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Testing
Gaps
=(B2:B10)
Check Answer
Spots
1D2: AVERAGE(B2:B10)
2D3: =SUM(B2:B10)

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Quick Questions

1. Which formula finds the average of the numbers in cells B2 to B10?
A. =AVERAGE B2 to B10
B. =AVERAGE(B2:B10) ✓
A function needs its range in brackets with a colon between the first and last cell, like =AVERAGE(B2:B10).
2. What does the AVERAGE function do with the numbers in the range?
A. Adds them up and divides by how many numbers there are ✓
B. Adds them up and stops
Average (the mean) is the total divided by the count. Only adding them up gives the total, not the average.
3. Cells B2 to B6 hold 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. What does =AVERAGE(B2:B6) show?
A. 6 ✓
B. 30
The total is 30 and there are 5 numbers, so 30 ÷ 5 = 6. The 30 is the total, not the average.
4. Which function would you use to find the TOTAL of cells B2 to B10?
A. =AVERAGE(B2:B10)
B. =SUM(B2:B10) ✓
SUM gives the total. AVERAGE gives the typical value after dividing by how many numbers there are.
5. Which statement is true?
A. The average is usually smaller than the total ✓
B. The average is always the same as the total
The total adds all the numbers. The average divides that total by the count, so for positive numbers with more than one value it is smaller than the total.

Match the Pairs

=AVERAGE(B2:B10) → Finds the mean of the numbers in cells B2 to B10
=SUM(B2:B10) → Finds the total of the numbers, not the average
To find the typical value of the scores in cells C2 to C8, use the AVERAGE function → =AVERAGE(C2:C8)
A student's 4 test scores are 6, 8, 10 and 8. The average is the total (32) divided by 4, which is 8 → =AVERAGE(A1:A4)
AVERAGE(B2:B10) → The formula is missing the = sign at the start, so the spreadsheet treats it as plain text and does not calculate it
=AVERAGE(B2,B10) → A comma picks only two cells, B2 and B10. A colon is needed to include every cell from B2 to B10

Key Term

=AVERAGE(B2:B10)
A spreadsheet function that adds up the numbers in cells B2 to B10 and divides by how many there are, to find the mean (the typical value). It is not the total.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Hint: Type the function name that finds the mean of a range of cells
2. =AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Hint: Type the range of cells from B2 down to B10, with a colon between them
3. =AVERAGE(B2:B10)
Hint: Type the symbol that joins the first and last cell to make a range
4. =AVERAGE(C2:C8)
Hint: Type the symbol every spreadsheet formula must start with
5. =SUM(B2:B10) / COUNT(B2:B10)
Hint: Type the function that adds up the total, which is then divided by how many numbers there are to give the mean

Spot the Error

Question 1
A D2: AVERAGE(B2:B10)
B D3: =SUM(B2:B10)
C D4: =COUNT(B2:B10)
Line A — A formula must start with =. Without it the spreadsheet shows the text instead of working out the mean. It should be =AVERAGE(B2:B10).
Question 2
A B2: 12
B B3: 15
C B4: 9
D B5: =AVRAGE(B2:B4)
Line D — The function name is spelled wrong. The spreadsheet does not know AVRAGE. It should be =AVERAGE(B2:B4).
Question 3
A B2: 10
B B3: 20
C B4: =AVERAGE[B2:B3]
D B4 shows 15
Line C — Functions use round brackets, not square brackets. It should be =AVERAGE(B2:B3).
Question 4
A Scores: 4, 6, 8
B Total: 4+6+8 = 16
C Count: 3 scores
D Average: 18 / 3 = 6
Line B — 4 + 6 + 8 is 18, not 16. The average is the total divided by the count, so the total must be right first.
Question 5
A Scores: 2, 4, 6
B Total: 12
C Average: 12 - 3 = 9
D =AVERAGE(B2:B4) gives 4
Line C — To find the average you divide the total by how many numbers there are. It should be 12 / 3 = 4, not subtract.

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