AVERAGE.WEIGHTED: Google Sheets formulas explained

My love for Google Sheets started when I realized that I could finally leave Microsoft Excel behind. Not only is Google Sheets free, but it also has some of the most amazing features in the world of spreadsheets. One of these features is the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula, which I am going to explain in this article.

What is the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula?

The AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula is one of the many functions that Google Sheets has to offer. In many ways, it is similar to the AVERAGE function, but this formula is designed specifically to calculate the average of a range of values, with each of these values having a different weight. Sounds complex, right? Let me break this down into simpler terms.

Let's imagine that you need to calculate the average score of a student, but this student took multiple exams. Each of these exams has a different weight or value, let's say Exam 1 is worth 30%, Exam 2 is worth 40%, and Exam 3 is worth 30%. In this case, you would use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula to calculate the student's average score.

Using the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula in Google Sheets

To use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula in Google Sheets, you need to follow a few simple steps.

1. Open Google Sheets and create a new blank spreadsheet.
2. Enter the data that you want to calculate the weighted average for.
3. Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
4. Type '=' to start the formula.
5. Type 'AVERAGE.WEIGHTED' or select the function from the list of functions that appear below the formula bar.
6. Enter the range of cells that you want to calculate the weighted average for.
7. Enter the range of cells that contains the weights for each value.
8. Close the formula with ')'.
9. Press 'Enter'.

And that's it! Google Sheets will now calculate the weighted average for you.

Real-world examples of using the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula

The AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula has a multitude of real-world uses, and I'm going to explore some of these below.

Calculating grades

One of the most obvious uses of the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula is when calculating grades. Let's say that you have a class where homework is worth 30%, quizzes are worth 20%, and exams are worth 50%. You could use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula to calculate each student's final grade.

To do this, you would enter the student's scores for each of these categories in separate columns. Then, you would use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula to calculate the weighted average of these scores, with the weights being 30%, 20%, and 50% respectively. The result would be each student's final grade.

Calculating inventory value

Another real-world use for the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula is when calculating inventory value. Let's say that you run a business where you sell products, and the price that you paid for each product varies depending on when you bought it.

You could use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula to calculate the average cost of each product in your inventory. To do this, you would enter the price that you paid for each product and the quantity of each product in separate columns. Then, you would use the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula to calculate the weighted average price of each product, with the weights being the quantity of each product that you have in your inventory.

Conclusion

The AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula is just one of the many fantastic features that Google Sheets has to offer. It's a formula that allows you to calculate the average of a range of values, with each of these values having a different weight. It's easy to use, and it has countless real-world applications. So, go ahead and try using the AVERAGE.WEIGHTED formula in your next Google Sheets project!