Google Sheets is a powerful tool that allows users to organize, analyze, and visualize data in a spreadsheet format. One of the most common operations performed on data is calculating the average. The average, also known as the mean, is a measure of the central tendency of a dataset. It is calculated by summing all the values in the dataset and then dividing by the count of values. Knowing how to make Google Sheets calculate average can help you quickly summarize and gain insights from your data.
Why Calculate Average in Google Sheets?
Calculating the average in Google Sheets can be useful in a variety of scenarios. For example, you might want to calculate the average score of a class on a test, the average revenue of a business over a certain period, or the average temperature in a city over a month. By calculating the average, you can quickly summarize a large dataset and get a sense of the typical value in the dataset.
How to Calculate Average in Google Sheets
Using the AVERAGE Function
The easiest way to calculate the average in Google Sheets is by using the AVERAGE function. The AVERAGE function takes a range of cells as an argument and returns the average of the values in those cells. Here’s an example:
=AVERAGE(A1:A10)In this example, the AVERAGE function is used to calculate the average of the values in cells A1 through A10. You can replace the range A1:A10 with any range of cells that contain numeric values.
Using the AVERAGEA Function
If your dataset contains both numeric and non-numeric values, you can use the AVERAGEA function instead of the AVERAGE function. The AVERAGEA function treats all values, including text and logical values, as if they were 0. Here’s an example:
=AVERAGEA(A1:A10)In this example, the AVERAGEA function is used to calculate the average of the values in cells A1 through A10, regardless of whether they are numeric or non-numeric.
Using the AVERAGEIF Function
If you want to calculate the average of a subset of a dataset based on a condition, you can use the AVERAGEIF function. The AVERAGEIF function takes three arguments: a range of cells, a condition, and a range of cells to average. Here’s an example:
=AVERAGEIF(B1:B10, ">50", A1:A10)In this example, the AVERAGEIF function is used to calculate the average of the values in cells A1 through A10, but only for the rows where the corresponding value in cells B1 through B10 is greater than 50. (See Also: How Do I Unlock A Google Sheet)
Using the AVERAGEIFS Function
If you want to calculate the average of a subset of a dataset based on multiple conditions, you can use the AVERAGEIFS function. The AVERAGEIFS function takes four arguments: a range of cells to average, a condition and a range of cells for the first condition, and a condition and a range of cells for each additional condition. Here’s an example:
=AVERAGEIFS(A1:A10, B1:B10, ">50", C1:C10, "=Female")In this example, the AVERAGEIFS function is used to calculate the average of the values in cells A1 through A10, but only for the rows where the corresponding value in cells B1 through B10 is greater than 50 and the corresponding value in cells C1 through C10 is “Female”.
How to Make Google Sheets Calculate Average
Google Sheets is a powerful tool for data analysis and calculation. One of the most common calculations performed in Google Sheets is finding the average of a set of numbers. In this article, we will discuss how to make Google Sheets calculate average using various methods.
Using the AVERAGE Function
The AVERAGE function is the most straightforward way to calculate the average of a set of numbers in Google Sheets. Here’s how to use it:
- Select the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
- Type “=AVERAGE(” into that cell.
- Select the range of cells containing the numbers for which you want to find the average.
- Close the parentheses and press Enter.
For example, if you want to find the average of the numbers in cells A1 through A5, you would type “=AVERAGE(A1:A5)” into the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
Using the AVERAGEA Function
The AVERAGEA function is similar to the AVERAGE function, but it can handle arrays that contain both numbers and text. If there are text values in the range, the AVERAGEA function will ignore them and only calculate the average of the numbers. Here’s how to use it: (See Also: How To Cross Out On Google Sheets)
- Select the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
- Type “=AVERAGEA(” into that cell.
- Select the range of cells containing the numbers and text for which you want to find the average.
- Close the parentheses and press Enter.
For example, if you want to find the average of the numbers in cells A1 through A5, even if there are text values in some of those cells, you would type “=AVERAGEA(A1:A5)” into the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
Using the AVERAGEIF Function
The AVERAGEIF function allows you to calculate the average of a range of cells based on a specified condition. Here’s how to use it:
- Select the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
- Type “=AVERAGEIF(” into that cell.
- Select the range of cells containing the numbers for which you want to find the average.
- Type a comma, then type the condition that the cells must meet to be included in the average calculation.
- Close the parentheses and press Enter.
For example, if you want to find the average of the numbers in cells A1 through A5 that are greater than 10, you would type “=AVERAGEIF(A1:A5, “>10″)” into the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
Using the AVERAGEIFS Function
The AVERAGEIFS function is similar to the AVERAGEIF function, but it allows you to specify multiple conditions. Here’s how to use it:
- Select the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
- Type “=AVERAGEIFS(” into that cell.
- Select the range of cells containing the numbers for which you want to find the average.
- Type a comma, then type the first condition that the cells must meet to be included in the average calculation.
- Type another comma, then select the range of cells to be evaluated for the first condition.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional condition.
- Close the parentheses and press Enter.
For example, if you want to find the average of the numbers in cells A1 through A5 that are greater than 10 and less than 20, you would type “=AVERAGEIFS(A1:A5, “>10”, A1:A5, “<20")" into the cell where you want the average value to be displayed.
Recap
In this article, we discussed how to make Google Sheets calculate average using various methods. We covered the AVERAGE function, which can handle a range of cells containing only numbers. We also discussed the AVERAGEA function, which can handle arrays that contain both numbers and text. Additionally, we covered the AVERAGEIF function, which allows you to calculate the average of a range of cells based on a specified condition, and the AVERAGEIFS function, which allows you to specify multiple conditions. By using these functions, you can quickly and easily calculate the average of a set of numbers in Google Sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on How to Make Google Sheets Calculate Average
1. How do I calculate the average of a column in Google Sheets?
To calculate the average of a column in Google Sheets, first select the cell where you want the average value to appear. Then, click on the “Formulas” menu at the top, select “Average” and choose the range of cells you want to calculate the average for.
2. Can I calculate the average of non-consecutive cells in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can calculate the average of non-consecutive cells in Google Sheets. Simply select the cell where you want the average value to appear, then manually enter the range of cells separated by commas. For example, you can enter “=AVERAGE(A1, C3, E5)” to calculate the average of cells A1, C3, and E5.
3. How do I calculate the average of a row in Google Sheets?
To calculate the average of a row in Google Sheets, first select the cell where you want the average value to appear. Then, click on the “Formulas” menu at the top, select “Average” and drag the cursor across the row to select the cells you want to calculate the average for.
4. How can I calculate the average of a large dataset in Google Sheets?
If you have a large dataset in Google Sheets, you can still calculate the average by using the “AVERAGE” function. Simply select the cell where you want the average value to appear, then enter “=AVERAGE(range)” where “range” is the range of cells you want to calculate the average for. Google Sheets will automatically calculate the average for the entire range.
5. Can I exclude certain cells from the average calculation in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can exclude certain cells from the average calculation in Google Sheets. To do this, you can use the “AVERAGEIF” function. This function allows you to specify a range of cells, a condition, and a range of cells to calculate the average for. For example, you can enter “=AVERAGEIF(range, criterion, [average_range])” where “range” is the range of cells to consider, “criterion” is the condition to exclude cells, and “[average_range]” is the range of cells to calculate the average for.