Which Excel function would you use to find the average of a set of numbers?

The AVERAGE function in Excel is specifically designed to compute the arithmetic mean of a set of numbers. When you use this function, it sums up all the values within the specified range and then divides that total by the number of values in that range. This makes it an efficient tool for quickly determining the average of data, an essential task in data analysis and reporting.

Using the AVERAGE function is particularly beneficial when you need to assess the central tendency of a dataset, as it efficiently provides a single representative value. In contrast, the other functions listed serve different purposes: SUM adds numbers together, MAX identifies the highest number in the set, and MIN finds the lowest number. These functions do not provide an average but rather focus on specific aspects of the dataset, highlighting the unique and necessary role that the AVERAGE function plays in Excel.