How is weighted average calculated

Supposing that the values to average are in cells B2:B6 and weights in cells C2:C6, our Sumproduct Weighted Average formula takes the following shape:.

To see the actual values behind an array, select it in the formula bar and press the F9 key. The result will be similar to this:. When all of the multiplications are done, the function adds up the products and returns that sum. Nor do they need to be expressed as percentages. Well, that's all about calculating weighted average in Excel. You can download the Weighted Average spreadsheet and try the formulas on your data. In the next tutorial, we are going to have a close look at calculating moving average.

I thank you for reading and look forward to seeing you next week! All the courses have the same grade scale and credits, no matter the course difficulty. So our grades may be converted into numbers:. Did you notice that it's a standard average? It's just summing all scores and dividing the result by the total number of observations 4 courses.

The things are getting more complicated when we consider the credits for the courses. Some sources ignore the course's credits for unweighted GPA score, but others keep them. The courses with higher credits value have better marks in our example, so the overall GPA is also higher.

As two courses are not standard classes, they get extra points A from Maths - 4. So we omitted the courses credits, but we've taken into account the difficulty of the course. And finally, we have. Now that you understood what a weighted average is, let's compare different averages. We've prepared for you a table which sums up all the important information about four different means:.

Embed Share via. Table of contents: Let's start from the beginning: what is a weighted average? How to calculate a weighted average Weighted average formula Weighted vs. Let's start from the beginning: what is a weighted average? How to calculate a weighted average One type of average which is typically weighted is a grade point average. Let's find out how to calculate a weighted average - the easiest way is to look at the simple example: Suppose a student has two four-credit classes, a three-credit class, and a two-credit class.

Now that we have all the information, we can have a look at how to calculate the GPA using a weighted average method: Sum the number of credits. Take the value assigned to the grade and multiply by the number of credits. So for our example it's equal to Weighted average formula Let's repeat what the weighted average formula looks like:. If the test scores are 75, 90, 88, the quiz average is 70, and the homework grade is 86, the weighted average is as follows: 0.

Weighted vs. There are a couple of types of more demanding courses, which influence your weighted GPA score: AP Courses Advanced Placement Courses usually give you additional 1 point to your standard GPA score, IB Courses International Baccalaureate Courses are also rewarded with 1 extra point, College Prep classes can also add 1 point to your grade, Honors Courses most often give you additional 0. Using the SUM function.

The trickier part is developing that set of numbers in the first place. To begin, place the values in one column and the weights in another column. Next, make a cell dedicated to your weighted average. Finally, divide the result by the sum of the number of values. In other words, you would be dividing by 5 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Instead of multiplying each value by its weight individually, you provide a whole range of cells and tell the formula that one number is the value and the other is the weight. Now you simply have to divide by the sum of the total values in your set, just like in the above formula.

These simple Excel formulas can save you a bunch of time when calculating weighted averages. With the job market as competitive as it is, every working professional needs to grow their toolbox of skills. Vote count:. No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Chris Kolmar. Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. By Chris Kolmar - Jun. Articles In Guide. Choose A Career. In This Article. What Is a Weighted Average? When Are Weighted Averages Used? Are you looking for job opportunities? Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the right jobs to get there. See My Jobs.

Create My Resume Now. Build My Resume Now. Create My Free Resume. However, the ratio of men to women in the general population is almost exactly This is precisely what weighted averages are used for. Example Weighted Average Calculation in Natural Gas Trading Natural gas traders are often interested in the volume-adjusted average price of gas in a particular region.

The prices and volume at each station: Station 1. Here are the scores two students have received in each of the categories: Timmy. New Android. New Huawei. Create Your Resume Here. How useful was this post? Click on a star to rate it! Get Started.