INTRODUCTION
The average of a number is a measure of the central tendency of a set of numbers. In other
words, it is an estimate of where the center point of a set of numbers lies.
WEIGHTED AVERAGES
When we have two or more groups whose individual averages are known, then to find the
combined average of all the elements of all the groups we use weighted average
The average [also known as arithmetic mean (AM)] of a set of numbers can also be defined as the
number by which we can replace each and every number of the set without changing the total of the
set of numbers
The average of 4 numbers 11, 12, 18 and 19 is:
Visualise addition of a fifth number, which increases the average by 1.
The average always lies above the lowest number of the set and below the
highest number of the set.
The net deficit due to the numbers below the average always equals the net
surplus due to the numbers above the average.
Ages and averages: If the average age of a group of persons is x years today
then after n years their average age will be (x + n). Also, n years ago their
average age would have been (x – n).
• If the value of each quantity is increased or decreased by the same value S,
then the average will also increase or decrease, respectively, by S.
• If the value of each quantity is multiplied by the same value S, then the average
will also be multiplied by S.
• If the value of each quantity is divided by the same value S (S ≠ 0), then the
average will also be divided by S.
A man travels at 60 kmph on the journey from A to B and returns at 100 kmph. Find his
average speed for the journey.
The average score of Virat Kohli after 25 innings is 46 runs per innings. If after the 26th innings, his
average runs increased by 2 runs, then what is his score in the 26th inning?
The average of the amount of money that 10 girls have is 45. When two more girls join, the
average increases by 2. Find the average amount of the two new girls.
a) 57 (b) 54 (c) 48 (d) None of these
Average age of P, Q and R is 84 years. When S joins them the average age of P, Q, R, and S
becomes 80 years. A new person T, whose age is 4 years more than S, replaces P and the
average age of Q, R, S, and T becomes 78 years. What is the age of P?
In a prep school, the average weight of 30 girls in a class of 50 students is 16 kg and that of the
remaining students is 15.5 kg. What is the average weight of the all the students in the class?
(a) 15.2 kg (b) 15.8 kg (c) 15.4 kg (d) None of these
The average marks of a class of 48 students is 35. Of them, two score zero, of the rest, the first
30 scored an average of 40, the next fourteen scored an average of 20. If the remaining two
scored equal marks, what are their individual marks?
(a) 80 (b) 75 (c) 90 (d) 100
The average rainfall for the first three days out of five days was recorded to be 0.45 inches.
The rainfall on the last two days was in the ratio 2:3. The average of five days was 0.40
inches. What was the rainfall on the last day?
(a) 0.45 inches (b) 0.39 inches (c) 0.35 inches (d) 0.30 inches
In a school, there are two sections for class X − section A and section B. The number of
students in section A and section B are 60 and 70, respectively, and their respective average
weight is 35 kg and 38 kg. If one of the students from section A is shifted to section B then
the average weight of both the sections decreases. What can be said about the weight of that
student?
a) His weight is less than 35 kg.
b) His weight is more than 38 kg.
c) His weight is more than 35 kg and less than 38 kg.
d) Cannot be determined
I went to a hotel along with 12 friends. I paid 145 and all the others paid an equal amount. In
the end, we did some calculations and found that the average sum paid by all of us was 5 more
than what was originally paid by each of my friends. How much money did each of my friends
pay?
(a) 120 (b) 100 (c) 80 (d) 70
[Part A CSIR-NET Dec. 2017]
The average staff salary of a company is Rs 8000/-. A new guard and a new manager are recruited
with salaries of Rs 5000/- and Rs 20000/-, respectively. What is the current staff strength if the
new average salary is Rs 4000/- more than that of the guard?
(a) 7
(b) 9
(c) 10
(d) 11
[Part A CSIR-NET June
2019]
The nine numbers x1, x2, x3……… x9, are in ascending order. Their average m is strictly greater
than all the first eight numbers. Which of the following is true?
(a) Average (x1, x2…..x9,m) > m and Average (x2, x3,….x9) > m
(b) Average (x1, x2…..x9,m) < m and Average (x2, x3,….x9) < m
(c) Average (x1, x2…..x9,m) = m and Average (x2, x3,….x9) > m
(d) Average (x1, x2…..x9,m) < m and Average (x2, x3,….x9) = m
[CSIR-NET NOV 2020 EVE]
A student obtains 59, 60, 69 and 81% marks in 4 courses carrying weights in the proportion
4:3:2:2, respectively. The following table gives conversion of marks to grade points. What will be
the Grade Point Average of the student?
(a) 6.0
(b) 6.5
(c) 7.0
(d) 7.5
[CSIR-NET NOV 2020 EVE]
Of the employees of a company 60 are male and the rest are female. The overall average salary
is Rs. 9,000; the average for the female employees is Rs. 12,000 and that of male employees is
Rs. 7000. The difference between the numbers of male and female employees is
(a) 30
(b) 10
(c) 20
(d) 40
