Stat functions: AVERAGE() MCQs Quiz | Class 9

This is an online multiple-choice questions (MCQs) quiz for Class 9 Computer Applications (Code 165), Unit 3: Office Tools (Spreadsheets). The topic covered is the statistical function AVERAGE(), focusing on calculating the mean of values in a range. Please attempt all questions, submit your answers to see the result, and download the answer sheet PDF for your records.

Understanding the AVERAGE() Function in Spreadsheets

The AVERAGE() function is a fundamental statistical function used in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc. Its primary purpose is to calculate the arithmetic mean (the most common type of average) of a group of numbers.

Key Concepts & Syntax

The function is easy to use and follows a simple structure.

  • Syntax: AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)
  • Arguments: The function can accept up to 255 arguments, which can be numbers, cell references (like A1), or ranges of cells (like A1:A10).

How AVERAGE() Treats Different Data

Understanding how the function handles various data types is crucial for accurate calculations:

  • Numbers: Included in the calculation.
  • Empty Cells: Ignored. They are not counted and their value is not considered.
  • Text and Logical Values (TRUE/FALSE): Ignored. The function skips over any cells containing text or boolean values within a range when calculating the average.
  • Zero (0): Included. A cell containing the number 0 is treated as a valid numeric value and is included in both the sum and the count.

Example Calculation

Consider the following data in a spreadsheet column:

Cell Value Included in AVERAGE(A1:A6)?
A1 10 Yes
A2 20 Yes
A3 0 Yes
A4 (empty) No (Empty cell)
A5 “NA” No (Text)
A6 30 Yes

Formula: =AVERAGE(A1:A6)

Calculation: The function will sum the numeric values (10 + 20 + 0 + 30 = 60) and divide by the count of numeric values (4).

Result: 60 / 4 = 15

Quick Revision Points

  • AVERAGE() calculates the arithmetic mean.
  • It only considers numbers in its calculation.
  • It ignores empty cells, text, and logical values (TRUE/FALSE) inside a range.
  • A cell with the value 0 is included in the calculation.
  • You can average numbers in both contiguous ranges (e.g., A1:A10) and non-contiguous cells (e.g., A1, C3, F5).

Extra Practice Questions

  1. What would be the result of =AVERAGE(5, 15, "Result", 10)?
  2. How is =AVERAGE(A1:A10) different from =(SUM(A1:A10)/COUNT(A1:A10))?
  3. If a range contains only text values, what error will AVERAGE() return?
  4. Write the formula to find the average of the values in cells A1 to A5 and D1 to D5.
  5. Does the AVERAGE() function find the median or the mode of a dataset?

Author

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