number1 - Required. First number, cell reference, or range to average (e.g., A1, A1:A10, 85).
number2 - Optional. Optional. Additional numbers, ranges, or cells. Up to 255 arguments allowed.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Student | Test Score | Average |
| 2 | Alice | 92 | |
| 3 | Bob | 88 | |
| 4 | Carol | 95 | |
| 5 | =AVERAGE(B2:B4) 91.7 |
Calculates mean of all numbers in A1:A10
=AVERAGE(85+90+78+92+88...) → 86.6
Mean across multiple non-adjacent ranges
Combines all values from both ranges
Calculates mean of all numeric values in column B
Automatically ignores text and blanks
Automatically skips text values
Result: 20 (calculates mean of only 10, 20, 30)
Find each student's average test score with this formula. This pattern is essential for teachers, professors, and academic administrators calculating semester grades, GPA scores, and performance trends. It automatically handles missing tests (blank cells) and provides accurate grade calculations. Perfect for educational institutions tracking student performance, calculating class averages, identifying struggling students, and measuring teaching effectiveness across multiple assessments and grading periods.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Student | Test 1 | Test 2 | Average |
| 2 | Alice | 92 | 88 | |
| 3 | Result: | =AVERAGE(B2:C2) 90 |
Calculate average monthly sales to measure team performance and identify trends with this statistical function. Essential for sales managers, business analysts, and executives tracking revenue patterns, setting realistic targets, and forecasting future performance. It helps identify seasonal patterns, compare team performance, evaluate sales rep effectiveness, and make data-driven compensation decisions. Perfect for quarterly business reviews, sales forecasting models, and performance management systems.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Month | Sales | Avg |
| 2 | Jan | $45,000 | |
| 3 | Feb | $52,000 | |
| 4 | Q1 Avg: | =AVERAGE(B2:B3) $48,500 |
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=AVERAGE(A1:A3)Use this formula instead of manual addition and division. It automatically counts non-blank numeric cells and handles dynamic ranges perfectly. This is more reliable, easier to maintain, and scales to any dataset size without manual adjustments.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=AVERAGEIF(A1:A10, ">0")If zeros should be excluded, use the conditional variant to calculate only positive values. It treats zeros as valid data but ignores blanks. Be intentional about whether zero represents "no value" (use blank) or "value of zero" (use 0) for accurate statistical analysis.
❌ The Problem:
✅ Solution:
=MEDIAN(A1:A10)For datasets with outliers, consider using MEDIAN instead. This approach is sensitive to extreme values - a single outlier can skew the mean significantly. MEDIAN finds the middle value and is resistant to outliers, providing a better "typical" value for skewed data distributions in real-world business scenarios.
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