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The SAT loves to ask a particular kind of question about averages that can pretty confusing without a nice, easy way to organize your information. Enter The Average Table. KNEEL WHEN IT ENTERS THE ROOM, KNAVE! Seriously, this thing kicks ass.

To build it, just remember what you have known for a long time about averages: how to calculate them. If I gave you a set of 5 test scores and asked you to average them, what would you do? You’d add them up, and then divide the total by 5. That’s because…

$\tiny&space;\inline&space;\dpi{300}&space;\fn_cm&space;Average\:&space;of\:&space;Values&space;=&space;\frac{Sum\:&space;of\:&space;Values}{Number\:&space;of\:&space;Values}$

That’s just how averages work. But what if we multiplied both sides of that equation by [Number of Values]?

$\tiny&space;\inline&space;\dpi{300}&space;\fn_cm&space;[Number\:&space;of\:&space;Values]\times&space;[Average\:&space;of\:&space;Values]&space;=&space;[Sum\:&space;of\:&space;Values]$

You can use this to set up a very handy little table, which will help you solve even the hairiest looking average questions. I’m going to use colors to help you see how! Aww yiss.

Let’s illustrate with a problem that looks like it sucks:

1. A delivery truck is loaded with seven packages weighing an average of 30 pounds. At his first stop, the delivery man drops off three packages weighing a total of 60 pounds. He also picks up one package weighing 15 pounds. He makes one more stop to deliver two more packages, which weigh 42 and 48 pounds. What is the average weight, in pounds, of the packages that remain on the truck?

(A) 15
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 25
(E) 30

OK. So let’s set up the average table, using the colors in the problem above to show what came from where (if you’re colorblind I’m so sorry):

$\tiny&space;\inline&space;\dpi{300}&space;\fn_cm&space;[Number\:&space;of\:&space;Values]\times&space;[Average\:&space;of\:&space;Values]&space;=&space;[Sum\:&space;of\:&space;Values]$
 7 packages 30 pounds -3 packages -60 pounds +1 package +15 pounds -2 packages -90 pounds

See where everything’s coming from? When we have an average (30 pounds for the initial 7 packages) we put it in the average column. When we have a sum, we put it in the sum column. We keep track of whether the packages are being delivered or picked up with + and – signs. Now let’s fill in the rest of the table just to see how everything works together (calculated values are in bold type…make sure you understand where they come from):

$\tiny&space;\inline&space;\dpi{300}&space;\fn_cm&space;[Number\:&space;of\:&space;Values]\times&space;[Average\:&space;of\:&space;Values]&space;=&space;[Sum\:&space;of\:&space;Values]$
 7 packages 30 pounds 210 pounds -3 packages 20 pounds -60 pounds +1 package 15 pounds +15 pounds -2 packages 45 pounds -90 pounds

We filled everything in just for practice, but for the next step we’re only going to need the values in the outer columns. So we know we started with a total weight in the truck of 210 pounds. We dropped off 3 packages weighing 60 pounds, picked up 1 package weighing 15 pounds, and dropped off 2 more weighing 90 pounds. Using our table, we can easily see that the number of packages left on the truck is 7-3+1-2 = 3, and the total weight on the truck is 210-60+15-90 = 75. So the average weight of the 3 packages left on the truck is 25 pounds! That’s choice (D)!

$\tiny&space;\inline&space;\dpi{300}&space;\fn_cm&space;[Number\:&space;of\:&space;Values]\times&space;[Average\:&space;of\:&space;Values]&space;=&space;[Sum\:&space;of\:&space;Values]$
 7 packages 30 pounds 210 pounds -3 packages 20 pounds -60 pounds +1 package 15 pounds +15 pounds -2 packages 45 pounds -90 pounds = 3 packages 25 pounds = 75 pounds

Some last notes about the average table before I give you a few more practice problems:

• You can only add or subtract up and down the outer columns. Try adding and subtracting averages and you’ll get all screwed up. You can only use the middle column for
• calculating the sum by multiplying the number by the average, or
• calculating the average by dividing the sum by the number.
• This will work with questions that have variables instead of numbers, as long as you follow the rules (but it’s a good idea to substitute real numbers to make your life easier whenever possible).
##### Try these two for practice:

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