To compute the average of three numbers, which step is correct?

To compute the average of three numbers, which step is correct?

• A. Multiply numbers, then divide by 3
• B. Multiply the numbers
• C. Add the numbers and divide by 3
• D. Add the numbers and divide by 2

Answer: (C)

Average is the arithmetic mean, found by adding the numbers together and dividing by how many numbers there are. For three numbers, you sum them and divide by three. This evenly distributes the total among the three values. For example, 2, 6, and 10 add up to 18; dividing by 3 gives an average of 6. Multiplying the numbers isn’t how you average, and dividing by 2 would be appropriate only if there were two numbers.

Average is the arithmetic mean, found by adding the numbers together and dividing by how many numbers there are. For three numbers, you sum them and divide by three. This evenly distributes the total among the three values. For example, 2, 6, and 10 add up to 18; dividing by 3 gives an average of 6. Multiplying the numbers isn’t how you average, and dividing by 2 would be appropriate only if there were two numbers.