What is Average?

Average is defined as the term referring to the sum of terms on which we need to perform average divided by the total count of the number of terms.

Average can also be termed as the arithmetic mean in mathematics as it represents a collective value for the given terms in the range. The word average can be used in any domain of science and engineering as well as in our daily lives. In daily life, we calculate what is the average temperature for the week or for the month. We use the term average strike rate for a batsman and average economy rate for a bowler. Hence, we see that the word, average is very generic and is used in almost every domain.

The formula for calculating average is discussed below:

Average Formula

The formula for average is given as:

Average = ( Sum of terms)/ (Total count of terms)

Average Example

Example: The run scored by a batsman in 5 matches are 20, 31, 52, 45, 97. Find his average strike rate.

Solution:

Average Strike Rate = (20 + 31 + 52 + 45 + 97)/5 = 245/5 = 49

Hence, on an average the batsman scored 49 runs per over.

Average and Mean, both have their significance in mathematics. Average and mean are considered to be similar but they have different meanings associated with them. There are different situations in our day-to-day lives, where we use the terms ‘mean’ and ‘average’ interchangeably. We use the word “Average” for any situation where we have to give a lump sum or approximate idea of a value. However, the word “Mean” is specifically used in the context of data in statistics. Both Average and Mean can be calculated by taking the sum of the given data and then dividing it by the total number of data.

In this article, we will explain both the terms mean and average and the difference between mean and average followed by solved problems on mean and average. At the end of the article, we will have some practice problems and FAQs related to mean and average.