Using the AVERAGE Function

There are times when you need to average a group of numbers for a class project, your grades in a class, or even items such as your monthly expenses.  Excel makes this easy with the "AVERAGE Function."  The formula is written =average open parenthesis first cell name followed by a colon followed by the last cell name in the group of numbers followed by a close parenthesis.  If you are averaging the numbers in cells a1 through a5, in a different cell you will type =average(a1:a5) with no spaces, and then hit the Enter or Tab key one time.  Now put numbers in cells a1 through a5 and then move to the cell where you wrote the AVERAGE Function to hear the answer.

Try the following to increase your skill.

1.  Open Excel.  In Excel 2013 hit the Escape or Enter key one time to open a blank spread sheet.
2.  In cell a1 type the number 5.
3.  Hit Enter one time.
4.  In cell a2 type the number 2.
5.  Hit Enter one time.
6.  In cell a3 type the number 7.
7.  Hit Enter one time.
8.  In cell a4 type the number 11.
9.  Hit Enter one time.
10.  In cell a5 type then number 1.
11.  Hit Enter one time and you are in cell a6.
12.  Type "=average(a1:a5)" (without the quotes).
13.  Hit Enter one time.
14.  Up arrow one time and you should hear the number 5.2.
15.  Move back to cell a1 and change the number to 20.
16.  Hit Enter one time.
17.  Move back to cell a6 and you should hear the number 8.2.
18.  In column b follow the steps above to set up your average function in cell b6 and place numbers in cells b1 through b5.
19.  Practice steps 2 through 18 above until you are quick and accurate.

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