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ASVAB · Averages and Statistics

What is the average of these test scores: 70, 75, 80, 85, 90?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

80

  1. A 78
  2. B 85
  3. C 75
  4. D 80

Why this is the answer

Average (mean) = sum of values ÷ number of values. Sum: 70 + 75 + 80 + 85 + 90 = 400. Count: 5 values. Average: 400 ÷ 5 = 80. Three types of averages: Mean — what most people call 'average', the sum divided by count. Median — the middle value when sorted (or mean of two middle values if even count); in this case 80 is also the median. Mode — most frequent value. For evenly spaced values, the mean equals the median. The ASVAB often tests problems where you need to find a missing value. Example: 'Three test scores average 80; two of them are 75 and 85. What is the third?' Set up: (75 + 85 + x)/3 = 80; solve: 160 + x = 240; x = 80. To find an average when given one set of data and adding more, use the weighted approach: combined sum ÷ combined count.
Source: ASVAB AR — Averages

Practice more questions

This question is from our ASVAB Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Averages and Statistics and other topics.

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About this topic: Averages and Statistics

Averages and statistics questions cover mean, median, mode and range, including working backwards from a known average to a missing value. Sort the data before finding a median, and remember the mean must lie between the smallest and largest values. This is one of 8 Arithmetic Reasoning questions on averages and statistics, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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