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

The AVERAGE function is specifically designed to calculate the mean value of a set of numbers in Excel. When you use this function, it sums up all the numbers in the specified range and divides that sum by the count of those numbers, which is the mathematical definition of an average. This function is straightforward to use and is a key tool for performing statistical calculations in Excel.

Other options may sound relevant but do not align with the specific function used in Excel. The SUM function totals a range of numbers but does not provide an average. The term AVG, while commonly associated with average calculations in other programming languages and contexts, is not a recognized Excel function. Similarly, the term MEAN refers to the same concept but is not a function in Excel. Therefore, AVERAGE is the correct and precise function for calculating the average of a set of numbers in Excel.