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Easy Question but I feel stupid.

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    Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    I just started using excel and I have been stuck on a problem all morning.

    I am supposed to find the Average of a group of numbers while discarding the smallest Number.

    I am supposed to use the Sum,Min and Count function. For the life of me I cannot get the answer.


    these are the numbers: 100 95 85 100 95 90 85

    The book says to get the average while discarding the lowest number and the correct answer is supposed to be 94.2 but I cannot get it. I used =sum(range)-min(range)/count(range) but it gives me 637.9. Can anyone help me?

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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Guess you forgot the brackets... (Sum(range)-Small(range;1)) / Count(range)

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    Valued Forum Contributor Harribone's Avatar
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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Because you are disregarding a value you need to include -1 to the count bit otherwise you divide by 7 instead of 6.
    Also wrap each bit of the divisino formula in their own set of brackets to ensure these bits are calulated first then the divde bit is done last.

    =(sum(range)-min(range))/(count(range)-1)
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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Because you are disregarding a value you need to include -1 to the count bit otherwise you divide by 7 instead of 6.
    Also wrap each bit of the divisino formula in their own set of brackets to ensure these bits are calulated first then the divde bit is done last.

    =(sum(range)-min(range))/(count(range)-1)

    Thanks for the help but Excel told me the formula is wrong and took out the ) at the end and gave me an answer of 79.7.


    The books give the answer as 92.4

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    Forum Expert Tony Valko's Avatar
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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Like this...

    Data Range
    A
    B
    C
    1
    100
    -----
    94.16667
    2
    95
    3
    85
    4
    100
    5
    95
    6
    90
    7
    85

    This formula entered in C1:

    =(SUM(A1:A7)-MIN(A1:A7))/(COUNT(A1:A7)-1)

    The placement of the ( ) dictate which calculations have precedence.
    Biff
    Microsoft MVP Excel
    Keep It Simple Stupid

    Let's Go Pens. We Want The Cup.

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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Maybe something complicated. Please look to attached file. And you know if you want to discard two smallest numbers its easier by this function.

    edit: Sorry my bad stupid solution, excel in your example discard 2 smallest numbers.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by pulkownik; 09-14-2013 at 03:56 PM.

  7. #7
    Forum Expert martindwilson's Avatar
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    Re: Easy Question but I feel stupid.

    Your post does not comply with Rule 1 of our Forum RULES. Your post title should accurately and concisely describe your problem, not your anticipated solution.

    Use terms appropriate to a Google search. Poor thread titles, like Please Help, Urgent, Need Help, Formula Problem, Code Problem, and Need Advice will be addressed according to the OP's experience in the forum: If you have less than 10 posts, expect (and respond to) a request to change your thread title. If you have 10 or more posts, expect your post to be locked, so you can start a new thread with an appropriate title.

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