SOLUTION: So I would think that the average of4,2,-3,6,5,-3,-2,0,-1,-4,3 would be .636363 but the tester said it is 1.18 no ClUE! I came up with an answer of 1.18 by adding only the negative

Algebra ->  Average -> SOLUTION: So I would think that the average of4,2,-3,6,5,-3,-2,0,-1,-4,3 would be .636363 but the tester said it is 1.18 no ClUE! I came up with an answer of 1.18 by adding only the negative      Log On


   

Question 38107: So I would think that the average of4,2,-3,6,5,-3,-2,0,-1,-4,3 would be .636363 but the tester said it is 1.18 no ClUE! I came up with an answer of 1.18 by adding only the negative numbers and dividing by the whole total of numbers! but WHY! and is that the way it is supposed to be done.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A very good way to look at it is - suppose you are checking some
kind of a meter every hour and the meter shows positive for
gains and negative for losses. You just want to find an average
reading. Zero is a valid reading and must be counted.
Add the positives
4 + 2 + 6 + 5 + 3 = 20
add the negatives
-3 -3 -2 -1 -4 = -13
average = (total from readings) /(number of reading)
average = 20 -13 + 0 / 11
average = 7/11 = .636363. . .
You divide by 11, not 10, because 0 is a valid reading, OK?