The AVERAGE function with example in Excel

The AVERAGE function in Excel calculates the arithmetic mean of a group of numbers. It adds up the numbers and divides the total by the count of the numbers.

Syntax

scss
AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)

• number1, number2, ...: The numbers, cell references, or ranges that you want to calculate the average of. You can include up to 255 arguments.

Example

Suppose you have a list of numbers and you want to find the average.

Data:

A
10
20
30
40
50

Steps to Use the AVERAGE Function:

1. Enter the Data:

   • In cells A1 to A5, enter the numbers: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

2. Use the AVERAGE Function:

   • In cell A6, enter the following formula:

     scss
     =AVERAGE(A1:A5)
     

Result:

After entering the formula, cell A6 will display the average of the numbers in cells A1 to A5.

A
10
20
30
40
50
30

Explanation

• The AVERAGE function calculates the sum of the numbers in cells A1 to A5, which is 150.
• It then divides the sum by the number of values, which is 5.
• The result, 150 / 5, is 30, which is displayed in cell A6.

Additional Examples

Example with Direct Numbers

You can also use the AVERAGE function with direct numbers instead of cell references.

• In cell B1, enter:

  scss
  =AVERAGE(10, 20, 30, 40, 50)
  

This will give the same result, 30.

Example with Mixed References

You can mix cell references and direct numbers.

• In cell B2, enter:

  scss
  =AVERAGE(A1, A2, A3, 40, 50)
  

This will calculate the average of the numbers in A1, A2, A3, and the direct numbers 40 and 50.

Practical Use Case

Suppose you have students' scores and you want to find the average score.

A	B
Name	Score
John	85
Alice	90
Bob	78
Carol	92
Dave	88

To calculate the average score:

1. Enter the Data:

   • In cells A2 to A6, enter the names: John, Alice, Bob, Carol, Dave.
   • In cells B2 to B6, enter the scores: 85, 90, 78, 92, 88.

2. Use the AVERAGE Function:

   • In cell B7, enter the formula:

     scss
     =AVERAGE(B2:B6)
     

Result:

A	B
Name	Score
John	85
Alice	90
Bob	78
Carol	92
Dave	88
	86.6

The average score, 86.6, is calculated and displayed in cell B7.

The AVERAGE function is a powerful tool in Excel for quickly calculating the mean of a set of numbers, whether they are in a continuous range, separate cells, or a combination of both.