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Average Calculator

Created by Mateusz Mucha
Reviewed by Jack Bowater
Last updated: Mar 06, 2024


The average calculator will calculate the mean of up to thirty numbers. An interesting aspect of the calculator is you can see how the mean changes as more values are entered. Before you use the calculator, you should know how to calculate the average, just in case you are without the internet and cannot access this calculator. Note that the mean is the same as average, and we can use these terms interchangeably.

🙋 There are also different methods to estimate the mean value. Our geometric mean calculator will help you understand the concept of the geometric mean and evaluate the result in a second.

How to use the average calculator

Eager to quickly learn how to use our average calculator and make the most of its functionalities? Just follow the steps below:

  1. Start by entering values into the calculator. You can input up to 50 numbers, but you don't need to fill in all the entries if you don't require them.

  2. As you enter your numbers, the calculator will automatically compute the average for you. The mean average is displayed as the sum of all the values you've entered, divided by the total number of values.

  3. The interface is designed to be dynamic. Once you reach the eighth entry, the field for the ninth number will appear automatically, and this will continue as you add more numbers.

  4. There's no need to press a calculate button; the average updates instantly after every entry. So, you can add or remove numbers as needed, and the calculator will adjust the average accordingly.

For instance, if you're looking to calculate the average score of a class test, simply input each student's score into the calculator. Should the scores be 56, 75, 88, 45, and 92, the calculator will determine the average to be 71.2.

The calculator can also be used for larger datasets. Suppose you have a set of 30 temperature readings from a science experiment; just keep inputting each reading into the calculator. As you input the 30th reading, the average of all 30 temperatures will be automatically calculated and presented to you.

Explore further to understand more about the concept of the mean average, its significance in various fields, and how it's mathematically derived.

How to calculate average

The average of a set of numbers is simply the sum of the numbers divided by the total number of values in the set. For example, suppose we want an average of 24,55, 17, 87 and 100. Simply find the sum of the numbers: 24 + 55 + 17 + 87 + 100 = 283 and divide by 5to get 56.6. A simple problem such as this one can be done by hand without too much trouble, but for more complex numbers involving many decimal places, it is more convenient to use this calculator. Note that the average rating calculator does a similar math - it calculates an average rating given the number of votes with values from 1 to 5.

Similar concepts involving averages

The weighted average calculator lets you assign weights to each number. A number weighting is an indicator of its importance. A common type of weighted mean that is computed is the grade point average (GPA). Check our dedicated GPA calculator for more details. To do this by hand, follow these steps:

  1. Multiply the value of the letter grade by the number of credits in the class.
  2. Do this for all the classes and take the sum.
  3. Divide the sum by the total number of credits.

Suppose the grades are an A for a 3 credit class, two B's for the 4 credit classes, and a C for a 2 credit class. Using the standard value of 4 for an A, 3 for a B, and 2 for a C, the grade point average is GPA = [4×3 + 3×4 + 3×4 + 2×2]/(3 + 4 + 4 + 2) = 40/13 = 3.08

Note that the average calculator will compute the average for all values that are weighted equally, in contrast to the tools linked above. In statistics, we treat the mean as a measure of central tendency.

Behind the scenes of the average calculator

I'm Mateusz, the founder of Omni Calculator, and I brought my extensive expertise to the development of our average calculator. With years of experience managing financial projects, I understand the pivotal role of accurate and efficient analysis in decision-making processes.

The concept of the average calculator was born out of my recognition of the need for a streamlined, intuitive tool that could simplify the calculation of averages for both my team and clients. My goal was to create a calculator that would not only expedite the analysis of data sets but also be accessible to individuals at all levels of statistical knowledge.

Now, I regularly employ the average calculator in my professional toolkit to swiftly compute averages during analysis sessions. This tool has proven invaluable in providing clear, instantaneous insights into complex data sets, enhancing productivity and decision-making accuracy.

In developing the average calculator, we've meticulously ensured the quality and reliability of the content. Each feature is peer-reviewed by experts to guarantee precision and native English speakers proofread every detail for clarity and accuracy.

FAQ

What are the 4 averages?

The four averages are the mean, median, mode, and range. The mean is what you typically think as the average - found by summing all values and dividing the sum by the number of values. The median is the middle value of the set (or the average of the two middle values if the set is even). The mode is the piece of data that occurs the most, and the range is the difference between the highest and lowest values.

Why do we calculate average?

We calculate averages because they are a very useful way to present a large amount of data. Instead of having to trawl through hundreds or thousands of pieces of data, we have one number that succinctly summarises the whole set. While there are some problems with averages, such as outliers showing an inaccurate average, they are useful to compare data at a glance.

Why are averages misleading?

Averages can be misleading for a number of reasons. They best represent evenly distributed bell curves, where most results are found in the middle and few on the extremities. But even one very extreme point can change the average dramatically, so these anomalies are often excluded, but not always. Next, humans tend to interpret averages as being perfect representations, leading to a lack of desire to understand the nuances of the data. Lastly, we often use averages to predict individual cases, which are often wildly inaccurate.

How do I calculate my grade average?

To calculate your grade average:

  1. Multiply each grade by the credits or weight attached to it. If your grades are not weighted, skip this step.
  2. Add all of the weighted grades (or just the grades if there is no weighting) together.
  3. Divide the sum by the number of grades you added together.
  4. The resulting quotient is your final grade average.

How do I calculate a weighted average?

To evaluate a weighted average:

  1. Multiply each number by its weight.
  2. Add all of the weighted numbers together.
  3. Divide the sum by the number of data points.
  4. The resulting quotient is the weighted average.

Is average better than mode?

There is no easy answer to whether the average is better than the mode - it depends entirely on the data set in front of you. If the data is normally distributed and has no outliers, then you should probably use the average, as it will present you with the most representative value. The mode, however, is more robust and will present the most common value, regardless of any outliers. The mode should always be used with categorical data - that is, data with distinct groups - as the groups are not continuous.

How do you calculate the average percentage in Excel?

Although it is easier to use the Omni Average Calculator, to you calculate average percentage in Excel:

  1. Input your desired data, e.g., from cells A1 to A10.
  2. Highlight all cells, right click, and select Format Cells.
  3. In the Format Cells box, under Number, select Percentages and specify your desired number of decimal places.
  4. In another cell, input =AVERAGE(cell 1, cell 2,…). In our example, this would be =AVERAGE(A1:A10).
  5. Enjoy your average!

Can you average averages?

You can average averages, but it is often very inaccurate and should be done carefully. Let's say you had two countries, one with a population of 10 million and a GDP of $30,000 and one of 10,000 and a GDP of $2,000. The average GDP per country is $16,000, while the average GDP per person is ~$30,000, both vastly different figures showing vastly different things - so be careful.

What is better, average or median?

Whether you should use the average or the median will depend on the data you are analyzing. If the data is normally distributed and has no outliers, then you should probably use the average, although the value will be quite similar to that for the median. If the data is heavily skewed, the median should be used as it is less effected by outliers.

Is the average of averages accurate?

The average of averages is not accurate - most of the time. Data can be misleading due to two main factors, lurking variables and weighted averages. Lurking variables is where, by taking the average of averages, a piece of information is lost, which provides greater insight into the topic at hand. The other issue is not weighting averages when it is needed. If, say, the number of people visiting changes each month, by not weighting against the number of people, information will be lost.

Mateusz Mucha
Mean average formula
Values (you may enter up to 50 numbers)
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