How do I calculate the average?

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If you need the mean value from a number of values, then consider: "How do I calculate the mean value?". This can be time-consuming with large amounts of data, but the solution is actually quite simple.

Negative numbers are also included in the average.
Negative numbers are also included in the average.

What you need:

  • a set of data or a series of numbers
  • a time reference
  • calculator
  • Paper and pen

Required data for the average value - the first considerations

If you have a list of values ​​in school, at work or in private, from which you should calculate the average value, then stay cool for now.

  • Never ask yourself: "Help, how do I calculate this now?"
  • Stay calm, especially when you are under time pressure or exam stress.
  • Then go through the given values ​​and pay attention to the time periods for which these values ​​apply.
  • Often times are in exams little tricks built in, so pay attention to all the details when you start thinking about it.
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  • Typically, you have a list of dates, all of which refer to a comparable period of time. For example, data for electricity consumption per month. You should now calculate the mean value from this.
  • However, it can also be the case that you are given an annual value and should now calculate an average monthly consumption from it.
  • Take a deep breath, both are very easy once you understand the system.
  • You should therefore check your specifications very carefully. If you are to calculate an annual average, you need the data for all 12 months. Check whether these are complete, have been grouped, or have other irregularities.
  • If you have received a total for half a year or a quarter, it can be assumed that all months have been recorded.

Never say, "I can't do that!" - the value is calculated quickly

There is no such thing as "I can't". It's all very easy when you know how. The average value is also called the mean and this is how you calculate it:

  1. You take the default values ​​and add them to a total with the help of a calculator or the old-fashioned way with pen and paper.
  2. Divide the total by the number of values.
  3. The value calculated in this way is already your average value.

Irregularities - Tips and Tricks

  • If you have specified a total for a six-month period or year and should now calculate the average value per month, simply divide the specified value by 6 or 12 months and you already have the mean value.
  • If you are to calculate the average from a half-year value and then deduce a value for the whole year (12 months), then go First, as described in the point above, and multiply the calculated average monthly value by 12 months for the Full year.
  • Make sure that no time period is missing from the data sequence provided. Math teachers in particular like to use tricks and omit a value. Once you see that you only have 5 values ​​for half a year, divide the sum of the data by 5 as well. This is how you get the mean value for 5 months.
  • With this trick, you then take the total for the period of 5 months and add the calculated monthly average value to this total once. This gives you a realistic estimate of the value for half a year.

Good luck and good luck!

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