How to Pick Out Data to Average ?

[blewyn]

I have 3 columns of data, and the rows must be kept intact (ie each
row is a record, so the columns cannot be independently sorted, the
data must be sorted in its entirety according to whichever column is
chosen as the sort criteria).

I can calculate the average of each row - but how do I calculate the
average of the top 5 or top 10 data values in each column ? Is there
a statistical formula I can use to average the highest 5 data values
in a column, WITHOUT sorting that column into any particular order ?

Thanks,

Blewyn

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

one way:

=AVERAGE(LARGE(A:A,{1;2;3;4;5}))

 

[blewyn]

Great !

Thanks,

Blewyn