Average Calculator
An average is the sum of the numbers divided by how many there are, and it tells you the typical value of a list. Enter your numbers below to get the mean, median, mode and range, or use the weighted section for grades, with each step shown.
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Weighted average (grades)
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Math Lantern Team · Updated
How to find an average
Add the numbers and divide by the count. The result is called the mean. The median is the middle number once the list is sorted, and the mode is the value that appears most often.
Worked example: 85, 90, 78, 92, 88, 90
The six scores add up to 523, so the mean is 523 ÷ 6 = 87.1667. Sorted, they read 78, 85, 88, 90, 90, 92, and the middle two are 88 and 90, so the median is 89. The value 90 appears twice, so it is the mode. The range is 92 − 78 = 14.
Weighted average for grades
When some scores count more than others, multiply each score by its weight, add the products, and divide by the total weight. With scores of 92 (weight 20), 85 (weight 20) and 78 (weight 30), the products are 1,840, 1,700 and 2,340. They add up to 5,880, and the weights add up to 70, so the weighted average is 5,880 ÷ 70 = 84 %.
What score do I need on the last item?
If the last item is worth 30 % of the grade and you want to finish at 85 %, the earlier work has already earned 84 % × 70 ÷ 100 = 58.8 points. You need 85 − 58.8 = 26.2 more points from the last item, which is 26.2 ÷ 0.30 = 87.33 % on it. The calculator above does this for you when you fill in the two optional boxes.
Weights do not have to add up to 100, because the calculator divides by the total weight that you enter. If you want to turn averages into chances, try the probability calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mean, median and mode?
The mean adds everything and divides by the count. The median is the middle value of the sorted list. The mode is the value that appears most often. A few very large or small numbers pull the mean more than the median.
How do I calculate a weighted average?
Multiply each score by its weight, add the results, and divide by the sum of the weights. Use the weighted section above to see each step.
Do the weights need to add up to 100?
No. The calculator divides by the total weight you enter, so weights of 2, 3 and 5 work the same as 20, 30 and 50.
Is the average the same as the mean?
In everyday use, yes: both usually mean the arithmetic mean. In statistics, average can also refer to the median or mode, so the calculator shows all three.
Back to the Factoring Calculator home page for other step-by-step tools.
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