Quick answer

Translate the story into a list of comparable percentages, then apply the arithmetic mean: sum ÷ count.

Formula

  • Arithmetic mean = (p₁ + p₂ + … + pₙ) ÷ n
  • In words: add the comparable percentages, divide by how many you added.

Introduction

Underline the instruction verbs, mean, average, typical, and circle every number paired with a unit or label. If a number lacks a clear population, ask before averaging; once the list is defensible, the Average Percentage Calculator can verify the arithmetic in one pass.

Showing work in one line (sum, n, division) earns partial credit in classrooms and trust in offices.

What is it?

A word problem is a data story with the table omitted. Your job is to reconstruct the table honestly before running the mean.

Rates and scores both appear as percents, but the narrative tells you whether they belong together. Once you extract the list, the arithmetic is the same as in worked examples with answers.

Formula (arithmetic mean)

  • Arithmetic mean = (p₁ + p₂ + … + pₙ) ÷ n
  • In words: add the comparable percentages, divide by how many you added.

The mean does not “know” whether your values are quiz scores, completion rates, or growth figures, you decide whether they belong in the same average.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Extract allowed values. List only numbers the problem says to combine; ignore distractors.
  2. Check comparability. Same kind of assessment or metric? Same scale? If not, stop or stratify.
  3. Sum and count. Write S = … and n = … explicitly.
  4. Compute the mean. State average = S ÷ n with units (%).
  5. Narrate the caveat. One sentence on what would change with weights or compounding if the story hinted at it.

Example

Maya’s unit tests: 82%, 86%, 90%. Sum 258, n 3, mean 86%. Branch backlog completion: 44% and 58% → mean 51% if both branches measure backlog the same way.

If a problem mentions quarters of growth (3% then 5%), an equal-weight mean is 4%, but finance may want compounding language instead; flag that in your answer. When the story mentions different weights instead of equal tests, switch mental models using average percentage vs weighted average.