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Average Joe
The second formula
Now, we could
of course turn the notch up a bit, now that we know how
formulas work, and go to a harder formula -- but we won't.
We'll do a similar formula to =sum(),
which is =average().
This formula works in exactly the same manner as
=sum() -- it is built the same way, has
the same criterions and parameters. The only difference in
these two formulas, is what the outcome is. You now know
that =sum() give you the sum of any number
of, eh, numbers. If you can guess what the
=average() formula does, please mail here, and receive a brand new car as
a prize... Yes, it gives you the average of any number
of, eh, numbers!
This is very typical for Calc, in that similar formulas are
also very similar to use. This makes it very much easier to
learn new formulas -- you only have to learn the new
formula name, and use the syntax (= the way that the
formula want its input formated) from the similar formula
that you already know.
Why don't we just use the same figures as last time? Like
this:
Now, type =average( and remember
not to complete the parenthesis:
Click and drag from the cell A1 to cell
A5, like below:
If you now press [enter] to finnish the
editing of the formula. Pardon? You on the back, speak up,
please! Did I forget to enter the final parenthesis? Hm,
yes, you're right. But did we get an error? Nope, Calc
guessed that we had finished editing the formula and
actually completed the formula for us! If you
happened to notice my "error" and put the end parenthesis
yourself, you ended up with exactly the same result.
Please see the lesson for =sum() for further details on
the =average() formula, as they are
almost identical in almost every aspect.