Finding a Missing Value Given the Mean

Examples
ANSWER KEY

Name ________________________
Part of Standard: 6.SP.5

Goal: How do you find the missing value in a set of data if you know some of the data and the mean
(average) you want to have?
Example 1:

Susan has four 20-point projects for math class. Susans scores on the first 3 projects are:
Project #1: 18
Project #2: 15
Project #3: 16
What does she need to make on Project #4 so that the mean (average) for the four projects is 17?
Explain your reasoning.

Solution 1:

Solution 2:

Project Number

#1

#2

#3

#4

Data (scores already

earned)

18

15

16

???

+1

Goal: Mean (average) of 17

How far away from the
average is each piece
of data?
Total amount away from the
goal average of 17.

1) Calculate the total number of points

needed to have an average of 17.
There are 4 projects. The goal mean is 17.
So a total of 17 x 4 or 68 points need to
be earned.

2) How many points have been earned

already?
(+1) + ( 2) + ( 1) = 2

19

Conclusion: Since she is 2 under or below the goal

average of 17, she must earn 2 above the goal average of
17 or 19 points.
Answer: Susan must earn 19 points on Project #4 to earn
an average of 17 points on all 4 projects.

She has earned 49 points on the first 3

projects.

3) How many points need to be earned

in order to reach the goal?
Take the total points needed and subtract
the points earned so far.
(68 49 = 19)
Susan must earn 19 points on Project #4
to earn an average of 17 points on all 4
projects.

Example 2:

Kevin has worked for five weeks at his part-time job. His weekly earnings are:
Week
Earnings

#1
$50

#2
$60

#3
$40

#4
$60

#5
$20

#6
???

What does Kevin need to earn in Week #6 so that the mean (average) for the six weeks is
is $50? Explain your reasoning.

Solution 1:

Solution 2:

Week Number

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Earnings

$50

$60

$40

$60

$20

??

There are 6 weeks. The goal

mean is $50.

Goal:
Mean (average) of $50
How far away from the
average is each piece of
data?
Total amount away from
the goal average of $50.

1) Calculate the total number

of money needed to have an
average of 50.

$0

+$10

$10

+$10

$30

So a total of 6 x $50 or $300

needs to be earned.

2) How much money has

been earned already?
($0)+($10)+($10)+(+$10)+($30) = $20

Conclusion: Kevin is $20 below the average of where he wants to be

for all weeks. So he must earn $20 more than the goal of $50 during
week 6.
Answer: Kevin needs to earn $70 during week 6 to earn an average of
$50 for all 6 weeks of work.

He has earned $230 during

the first five weeks.

3) How much money needs

to be earned in order to reach
the goal?
Take the total amount of money
needed and subtract the money
earned so far.
( $300 $230 = $70 )
Kevin needs to earn $70 during
week 6 to earn an average of
$50 for all 6 weeks of work.