1. What is a Weighted Average Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the weighted average of values based on their respective weights.

Purpose: It helps Mercer University students and faculty calculate course grades, GPA, and other weighted metrics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Value — The individual value (e.g., test score)
• Weight — The importance or contribution of that value
• ∑ — Summation of all value-weight pairs

Explanation: Each value is multiplied by its weight, these products are summed, then divided by the total of all weights.

3. Importance of Weighted Average

Details: Weighted averages provide more accurate results than simple averages when some values are more significant than others.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Add rows for each value-weight pair
• Enter numerical values (weights must be ≥ 0)
• Remove unnecessary rows
• Click Calculate when ready

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between weighted and regular average?
A: Regular average treats all values equally, while weighted average accounts for their relative importance.

Q2: Can weights be percentages?
A: Yes, weights can be any positive numbers. Percentage weights will automatically normalize in the calculation.

Q3: How is this used at Mercer University?
A: Useful for calculating course grades where assignments have different weights, or for weighted GPA calculations.

Q4: What if my weights don't add up to 100%?
A: The calculator automatically normalizes the weights, so they don't need to sum to any specific value.

Q5: Can I calculate semester GPA with this?
A: Yes, enter each course grade as a value and credit hours as weights to calculate semester GPA.