How to work out average?

How to find the average

Looking for how to find the average of numbers? We’re here to help. The average, also known as the mean, is the sum of a set of values divided by the number of values that you have. Let’s take a look at an example of how to work out average using positive numbers first:

1. In this example, the children are looking to share their marbles equally, so that every child has the average amount.
2. We need to find the average of 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10.
3. First, let’s add those values together. This gives us a total of 30.
4. We have five different values, so we need to work out 30÷5, which gives us 6.
5. Our final answer is that the average amount is 6.

Now that we've worked out how to find the average with positive values, let’s take a look at negative numbers.

How to find the average of numbers that are negative

When it comes to calculating the average of sets of values that involve negative numbers, it’s not as daunting as it sounds. There’s no difference in the process we use, and these negative numbers affect the total value in the same way that subtracting from it would. Let’s try an example together:

1. We’re going to find the average of -16, -8, -6, 4, 20 and 42.
2. First, we need to add these numbers together. If you’d prefer, you can add up the positive numbers and treat the negative numbers as the amount you’re subtracting.
3. In this case, we would work out 66-30=36.
4. We have six values, we reach our answer by calculating 36÷6=6.
5. The average of these values is 6.

Resources to help your class with how to calculate average

If you’re looking to support your class with how to work out the average, then Twinkl is here to help. Our team of experienced teachers have curated a variety of resources and activities to complement your teaching, and they follow national curriculum standards too. So, you can rest assured that no matter what you choose to download, children will always be learning and applying only relevant skills and knowledge. Take a look at some of our favourites:

Mode, Mean, Range and Median Poster Pack

Year 6 Diving into Mastery: The Mean Teaching Pack

Differentiated Mean in Maths Worksheets