How to use the RANK.AVG function
What is the RANK.AVG function?
The RANK.AVG function returns the rank of a number in a list of numbers.
The number returned indicates its size relative to other values in the list. If more than one value share the same rank, the average rank is returned.
What is ranking a number?
Ranking a number means determining its position or order when arranged with other numbers in a dataset. The rank provides information about where a value stands relative to others.
For example, ten students had the following test scores: 66, 97, 99, 77, 9, 60, 35, 60, 61, and 57
If we sort the numbers from largest to smallest we get: 99, 97, 77, 66, 61, 60, 60, 35, 9 We can now rank the numbers based on size which I have done in cells D3:D11, however, note that the RANK.AVG function does not rank numbers like the image demonstrates above.
When is it useful in statistics to rank a number?
One example is finding out the standing of an exam score in comparison to all students. Determining the rank is needed to find out the standing relative to the other students.
Another examples is that outliers are often ranked at the extremes.
What are outliers?
Outliers in statistics are observations that differ significantly from other observations in a dataset. They are data points that stand apart from the overall pattern.
What are the differences between RANK.AVG and the RANK.EQ functions?
The RANK.AVG function returns the average rank if more than one item share the same rank, the RANK.EQ function returns the top rank if more than one item share the same rank.
RANK.AVG function Syntax
RANK.AVG(number, ref, [order])
RANK.AVG function Arguments
| number | Â Required. The number whose rank you want to find. |
| ref | Required. A list of numbers. |
| [order] | Optional. A number specifying how to rank number. 0 -Â Excel ranks number as if ref were a list sorted in descending order. Default value. Any other number -Â Ascending order. |
What is descending order?
Descending order refers to arranging values or data points from highest to lowest. For example, sorting numbers in descending order:Â 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
What is ascending order?
Ascending order refers to arranging values from lowest to highest. For example, sorting numbers in ascending order: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
RANK.AVG function example
This example demonstrates how to calculate the rank of number 77 in this group: 66, 97, 99, 77, 9, 60, 35, 60, 61
Formula in cell E3:
RANK.AVG function example 2
The RANK.AVG function returns the average rank if two or more numbers share the same rank.
The test scores contain two identical numbers namely 60, they got the rank 6 and 7 in the first image above. The average of 6 and 7 is 6+7=13, 13/2 = 6.5
RANK.AVG function not working
Nonnumeric values in Ref are ignored.
Functions in 'Statistical' category
The RANK.AVG function function is one of 74 functions in the 'Statistical' category.
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