0The Average Function:
Follow-along file: Continue with Excel Objective 2.00. (Use file Excel Objective 2.06 if starting here.)
The next function we will add to the Budget Detail worksheet is the Average function. This function is
used to calculate the arithmetic mean for a group of numbers. For the Budget Detail worksheet, we will
use the function to calculate the average of the values in the Annual Spend column. We will add this to the
worksheet by using the Function Library. The following steps explain how this is accomplished:
1. Click cell D14 in the Budget Detail worksheet.
2. Click the Formulas tab on the Ribbon.
3. Click the More Functions button in the Function Library group of commands.
4. Place the mouse pointer over the Statistical option from the drop-down list of options.
5. Click the AVERAGE function name from the list of functions that appear in the menu (see Figure
2.19 "Selecting the AVERAGE Function from the Function Library"). This opens the Function
Arguments dialog box.
6. Click the Collapse Dialog button in the Function Arguments dialog box (seeFigure 2.20 "Function
Arguments Dialog Box").
7. Highlight the range D3:D11.
8. Click the Expand Dialog button in the Function Arguments dialog box (seeFigure 2.21 "Selecting a
Range from the Function Arguments Dialog Box"). You can also press the ENTER key to get the
same result.
9. Click the OK button on the Function Arguments dialog box. This adds the AVERAGE function to
the worksheet.
Figure 2.19 "Selecting the AVERAGE Function from the Function Library"illustrates how a function is
selected from the Function Library in the Formulas tab of the Ribbon.
