Question

By examining the screenshot below, select the option that best indicates how to work out the average. Once you have worked out the average, also indicate whether the student achieved a distinction (>75%) or not.





=AVERAGE(B2:B6); the student did not get a distinction. 


=AVERAGE(B2-B6); the student did pass and get a distinction. 


=MEAN(B2:B6); the student did not get a distinction. 


=SUM(B2:B6/5); the student did get a distinction. 

Answer 1

To work out the average, the correct formula should be **=AVERAGE(B2:B6)**, which calculates the mean of the values from cells B2 to B6.

- If we check the options:

1. **=AVERAGE(B2:B6); the student did not get a distinction.** - This option uses the correct formula but states the result regarding the distinction without knowing the actual scores.

2. **=AVERAGE(B2-B6); the student did pass and get a distinction.** - This is incorrect because the syntax for the AVERAGE function is wrong (it should be 'B2:B6', not 'B2-B6').

3. **=MEAN(B2:B6); the student did not get a distinction.** - This option uses an incorrect function name, as there is no MEAN function in most spreadsheet software like Excel.

4. **=SUM(B2:B6/5); the student did get a distinction.** - This is incorrect because the formula format is wrong for calculating an average.

To accurately determine whether the student achieved a distinction (>75%), you would need to calculate the average using the correct method. Based on the provided options, the first one is the most appropriate in terms of indicating how to calculate the average, but the distinction status cannot be confirmed without actual scores.

Therefore, the best answer based on the method for calculating average would be:

**=AVERAGE(B2:B6); the student did not get a distinction.** (assuming from this option that the average calculated was <=75%).