The AVERAGE function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool that allows users to calculate the mean of a specified range of numerical values. This function is essential for data analysis and reporting, providing insights by summarizing data points effectively.

Syntax

AVERAGE(value1, [value2, ...])

• value1: The first number or range for which you want to calculate the average.
• value2: Optional; additional numbers or ranges to include in the average calculation.

Example #1

AVERAGE(A1:A5)

This function calculates the average of the numerical values in the range A1 to A5. For example, if A1=10, A2=20, A3=30, A4=40, A5=50, it would return 30.

Example #2

AVERAGE(B1:B10, C1:C10)

This function computes the average of the numerical values in the ranges B1 to B10 and C1 to C10. If B1=5, B2=15, and C1=25, it would yield an average of 15.

Example #3

AVERAGE(D1:D5, 100)

This function calculates the average of the values in D1 to D5, along with the number 100. If D1=20, D2=30, D3=40, D4=text, and D5=50, the result is 50, as text is ignored.

Error handling

• DIV/0!: This error occurs when all selected values are non-numeric or when the range is empty.
• VALUE!: Indicates that the function encountered a non-numeric value in the provided arguments, which cannot be processed for averaging.

Conclusion

The AVERAGE function in Google Sheets is invaluable for simplifying the process of summarizing large datasets. By ignoring non-numeric entries, it ensures accurate calculations, making it a fundamental tool for anyone working with data analysis or reporting.