How to calculate an average using Excel:

1. Enter all the data into the spreadsheet

2. Go to an empty cell and type =average(
(That's =average, followed by an open parenthesis)
3. Use the mouse to highlight the data:
(Move the cursor to the first data point and press and hold the left mouse button,
then drag the mouse over all the data until it is all highlighted.)
4. Hit Enter. Excel will automatically close the parentheses and calculate the average.
How to calculate a standard deviation using Excel:
Do the same thing, but this time use the built-in function =stdev instead of =average.
Try it with this data set using the yellow cells below, or just go crazy with a data set of your own!
Masses of quarters It's fast, it's fun, and it's free!
5.7128 5.6947
5.7085 5.6907 Do it today!
5.6106 5.6339
5.6009 5.7205 Don't delay!
5.6466 5.7195
Hip hip hooray!
Average =average(highlight the data you want )
Standard Deviation =stdev(highlight the data you want )
EXCEL DOES NOT ROUND TO THE CORRECT NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT DIGITS!
YOU GOTTA KNOW HOW TO DO THAT!
Always round the standard deviation to ONE significant digit.
Then round the average to the SAME DECIMAL PLACE that the standard deviation is in.
EXCEL DOES NOT ROUND TO THE CORRECT NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT DIGITS!
YOU GOTTA KNOW HOW TO DO THAT!
Always round the standard deviation to ONE significant digit.
Then round the average to the SAME DECIMAL PLACE that the standard deviation is in.
How to determine the number of significant digits:
All non-zero digits (1 through 9) are always significant.
Zeroes can be non-significant in TWO situations:
1) In a decimal less than one (such as 0.00452), all the 0's on the left are not significant.
2) In a number larger than 1 that has no digits after the decimal point (like 4500), all the zeroes to the right
are not significant unless you are told otherwise. But if there are decimal places in the number
(like (4500.2, or even 4500.0), then all those zeroes are significant. Any trailing zeroes at the end of a
decimal number (to the right of the decimal point) are also significant.
Zeroes that are between two significant digits within a number are always significant.
When a number is written in scientific notation, all the digits are significant (6.02 x 10
23
has 3 significant digits).
How many significant digits are there in each of the following examples?
The yellow answer box will turn green when you get it right.
Do these using the 1) Round standard deviation to ONE significant digit.
simple rules given above.
2) Round the Average to the SAME DECIMAL PLACE as the St. Dev.
Number Significant Digits Number Significant Digits
5.0 Average St. Dev. Average
9.87 1.2099 0.044321
2000 35,906 1003
2001 0.00022 .00006
2000.0 15.5 10.2
0.00345 1,856,329 247.90
0.010 4.013 0.021
0.10203 0.12405 0.3107
0.00010203 25.45 4.99
In a decimal less than one (such as 0.00452), all the 0's on the left are not significant.
In a number larger than 1 that has no digits after the decimal point (like 4500), all the zeroes to the right
are not significant unless you are told otherwise. But if there are decimal places in the number
(like (4500.2, or even 4500.0), then all those zeroes are significant. Any trailing zeroes at the end of a
When a number is written in scientific notation, all the digits are significant (6.02 x 10
23
has 3 significant digits).
How many significant digits are there in each of the following examples?
The yellow answer box will turn green when you get it right.
1) Round standard deviation to ONE significant digit.
2) Round the Average to the SAME DECIMAL PLACE as the St. Dev.
Significant Digits
St. Dev.

When a problem involves one number that is known very precisely (many significant digits) and another one that is only approximate (few
significant digits), the number of significant digits in your answer is limited by the least precise number.
In multiplication and division, you simply count how many significant digits each number has, and whichever one has the fewest
significant digits, use that many in your answer.
1,200.3 x 45 = 54,000 limited to 2 significant digits by the 45
21.28014 13.3 = 1.60 limited to 3 significant digits by the 13.3
If a number is EXACT and has no error, then it has an infinite number of significant digits. For example, $100.11 (5 significant digits)
divided by two people (two people is exact, no error in that measurement) is $50.055 each (still five significant digits). How you divide
that last penny is a whole different problem. Usually when you see a number written as a fraction ( or , for example), it is exact.
In addition and subtraction, you don't count the digits. Instead you look at which decimal place the last significant digit falls in for each
number. Your answer can only go out to as many places as the least precise of the numbers. For example:
120 ( tens place) + 34.34 (hundredths place) = 150 (tens place)
98.6 (tenths place) - 32 (ones place) = 67 (ones place)
$573.83 + $10 = $580 $573.83 plus "about ten bucks or so" is about $580; the uncertainty is in the tens place
Always keep all the digits through the calculation and do all your rounding at the end. If a problem mixes multiplication/division and
addition/subtraction, keep all the digits until the end, but remember where your least significant digit lies so that you can round your
final answer to that same decimal place or number of digits.
Answer these problems using the correct number of significant digits. The yellow answer box will turn green when you get them right.
Operation Answer Operation Answer
147 + 6.9 125 x 0.73
1,290 - 12 0.003 x 4532
55.5 + 33.331 40.3
2112.3 + .0039999 35,000 x 0.000211 Remember to do all your rounding
-94.56 - 8 5 0.123 at the END of the calculation!
When a problem involves one number that is known very precisely (many significant digits) and another one that is only approximate (few
significant digits), the number of significant digits in your answer is limited by the least precise number.
In multiplication and division, you simply count how many significant digits each number has, and whichever one has the fewest
If a number is EXACT and has no error, then it has an infinite number of significant digits. For example, $100.11 (5 significant digits)
divided by two people (two people is exact, no error in that measurement) is $50.055 each (still five significant digits). How you divide
that last penny is a whole different problem. Usually when you see a number written as a fraction ( or , for example), it is exact.
In addition and subtraction, you don't count the digits. Instead you look at which decimal place the last significant digit falls in for each
number. Your answer can only go out to as many places as the least precise of the numbers. For example:
$573.83 + $10 = $580 $573.83 plus "about ten bucks or so" is about $580; the uncertainty is in the tens place
Always keep all the digits through the calculation and do all your rounding at the end. If a problem mixes multiplication/division and
addition/subtraction, keep all the digits until the end, but remember where your least significant digit lies so that you can round your
Answer these problems using the correct number of significant digits. The yellow answer box will turn green when you get them right.
Operation Answer
(125 x 0.73) (147 + 6.9)
(1,290 - 12) (0.003 x 4532)
(55.5 + 33.331) x (40.3 )
Remember to do all your rounding
at the END of the calculation!
Temperature (C) Density (g/ml) Suppose your sample temperature is 21.7 C. It is not on the
0 0.99984
chart, but is between two values that are.
10 0.99970
20 0.99821
Your sample temp is 1.7 degrees from the nearest temperature
21.7 30 0.99565 density
value in the table. The temperatures on the table are 10 degrees apart.
40 0.99222
So your sample temp is 1.7/10 of the way from 20 to 30.
50 0.98803
Therefore you need a density value that is 1.7/10 of the way from 0.99821 to 0.99565. Your final value
will be between these two numbers, but will be a lot closer to the first one than to the second.
So how do you calculate a value that is 1.7/10 of the way from 0.99821 to 0.99565?
1) Take the difference between the two densities: (0.99565 - 0.99821) = -0.00256
(Always subtract Final - Initial. The result is negative this time because the
density is decreasing as the temperature goes up.)
2) Multiply by 1.7 / 10: -0.00256 x (1.7 / 10) = -0.0004352
3) Add that back to the initial density: 0.99821 + -0.0004352 = 0.99776
4) Check your answer:
Is the final density somewhere between the two density values you started with? Yes!
Is it much closer to the density at 20C than the density at 30C? Yes!
Sehr gut!
Suppose your sample temperature is 21.7 C. It is not on the
chart, but is between two values that are.
Your sample temp is 1.7 degrees from the nearest temperature
value in the table. The temperatures on the table are 10 degrees apart.
So your sample temp is 1.7/10 of the way from 20 to 30.
Therefore you need a density value that is 1.7/10 of the way from 0.99821 to 0.99565. Your final value
will be between these two numbers, but will be a lot closer to the first one than to the second.
(0.99565 - 0.99821) = -0.00256
(Always subtract Final - Initial. The result is negative this time because the
-0.00256 x (1.7 / 10) = -0.0004352
0.99821 + -0.0004352 = 0.99776
Is the final density somewhere between the two density values you started with? Yes!
Is it much closer to the density at 20C than the density at 30C? Yes!
This material is also explained on pages 2 - 4 of the lab manual, so check there if you are still confused.
If you can't get a green box for the second combined operation example on the Operations page,
remember to keep all the digits throughout the entire calculation and do all your rounding at the end. If you
do the combined problem using your rounded answers from the first two columns, you will get the wrong answer!
If you have questions about this spreadsheet, e-mail Dr. Anderson at banderson@cm.utexas.edu.
This material is also explained on pages 2 - 4 of the lab manual, so check there if you are still confused.
If you can't get a green box for the second combined operation example on the Operations page,
remember to keep all the digits throughout the entire calculation and do all your rounding at the end. If you
do the combined problem using your rounded answers from the first two columns, you will get the wrong answer!
If you have questions about this spreadsheet, e-mail Dr. Anderson at banderson@cm.utexas.edu.