Lesson # 1: Average Function in MS Excel

AVERAGE() formula in MS Excel:

Now, what it does? And how are we going to use it in a spreadsheet?

Let us look how it works:

Average = Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the arguments.

Syntax or sequence of command:

=AVERAGE(number1; number2; number3; number4)

and so on.

                Let’s look at our example below:

               

Figure 1

                In our example number1, number2, number3, number4 values are found in cells C4, D4, E4, F4 respectively, separated by semi colon and enclosed with open and close parenthesis.

                But, we can also write the formula like this (see Figure 2) instead of specifying each of the cell references from C4, D4, E4, F4, which is a tedious process.  Using colon “ : ” to specify a range or series of cells. In our example, a range or series of cells are from C4 to F4 or C4:F4, which is the practical way of rewriting our formula.

               

Figure 2

               

Average() function is useful for teachers in calculating grades.