How do you treat negative numbers when calculating an average?

When calculating an average, including negative numbers as they are is the correct approach. An average, or mean, is determined by summing all the values in a dataset and then dividing by the number of values. Negative numbers represent valid data points that can influence the calculation of the average, reflecting the actual characteristics of the dataset.

For example, if a set of numbers includes both positive and negative values, treating negative numbers as zero or disregarding them entirely would skew the results and misrepresent the true average. Counting only the absolute values would also distort the average, as it would not reflect the actual balance between positive and negative values. Therefore, maintaining their original value allows for an accurate representation of the dataset as a whole, ensuring that the average you calculate is reflective of all elements present.