Back

Session 12: Functions in Sheets

divider

Session 12

Functions in Sheets

Last Session's Question

Which of your weights' 3 trials would you most want averaged automatically?

Today, Sheets does that math for you.

Structure First

Quick recap from what you already know: clearly labeled headers, units included right in each header, one row per weight.

Structure First

Transfer your Session 11 data into Sheets this way before anything else today.

From Manual to Automatic

You could add up three trials and divide by 3 yourself.

Or you could write one formula that does it — and keeps doing it correctly if a number changes.

Meet AVERAGE

=AVERAGE(range)

Meet AVERAGE

Select the cell where you want the result, type the formula, select the range of trial cells, press enter.

Worked Example

Trials of 12, 14, and 13 in cells B2:D2:

Worked Example

=AVERAGE(B2:D2)

Worked Example

=AVERAGE(B2:D2) → 13

Meet MIN and MAX

  • =MIN(range) — your smallest trial
  • =MAX(range) — your largest trial

Together, they show the spread at a glance.

Why a Formula, Not a Typed Number

If you catch a typo in one of your trial cells and fix it, a formula recalculates instantly.

A number you typed in by hand just sits there, quietly wrong.

Two Things to Remember

A formula is smarter than a number.

It reflects your actual data, even after your data changes.

Two Things to Remember

Reference the cells. Don't retype the values.

=AVERAGE(B2:D2) stays correct. Typing "13" does not, the moment B2:D2 changes.

Next Time

Session 13: Conditional Formatting & Data Quality

Now that you have averages, let's automatically flag anything that looks off.

'F' → Fullscreen

divider

Build

Step 1: Structure Your Table

Transfer your Session 11 data into Sheets: clearly labeled headers with units included (e.g., Weight (g),Trial 1 (mm)), one row per weight.

[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Building the Header Row]

Step 2: Add an Average Column

For each weight's row, use =AVERAGE(range) to compute the average of its 3 trials. Reference the actual trial cells — don't type in a number you calculated by hand.

[GIF PLACEHOLDER — Typing the AVERAGE Formula]

Step 3: Add Min and Max Columns

For each row, add =MIN(range) and=MAX(range) for the same 3 trial cells.

WeightTrial 1Trial 2Trial 3AverageMinMax

Step 4: Sanity Check

For every row, confirm your Average falls between your Min and Max. If it doesn't, one of your three formulas is referencing the wrong cells.

divider

Checkpoint

Before you move on, confirm all of the following:

  • Average, Min, and Max are actual formulas — not typed-in numbers
  • Average falls between Min and Max for every single row
  • Headers still include units, from your Session 11–12 structure
divider

Reflection

Answer the following questions before submitting your work.

  1. Pick one row. By how much does its Max differ from its Min? Does that spread feel large or small to you?
  2. Why might a formula-based average be more trustworthy than one you calculated by hand and typed in?
  3. Session 13 will automatically flag rows whose trials disagree with each other too much. Based on your Min/Max columns, which weight's trials do you think are least consistent?
divider

Submit

Submit your Sheets table with working Average, Min, and Max formulas, and your reflection.

Activity Complete