Calculate Monthly Numbers from Monthly Averages

**miami580** · 08-05-2010, 10:32 AM

I have a series of trailing 3 month averages. I want to calculate the actual number for each of the months. Is this possible?

**sweep** · 08-05-2010, 11:02 AM

Almost certainly.

Is it possible to get a little more information about the worksheet and data you're using?

**meyero90** · 08-05-2010, 11:03 AM

No, I think there's no way you could possibly do that. Do you mean you have 3 month average reported to you without knowing what are the data points used for the calculation? If yes, you can't possibly determine the data points that will return this average. Why do you want to know that?

**miami580** · 08-05-2010, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by meyero90

No, I think there's no way you could possibly do that. Do you mean you have 3 month average reported to you without knowing what are the data points used for the calculation? If yes, you can't possibly determine the data points that will return this average. Why do you want to know that?

That is correct. I'm being provided with 3 month averages each month and I need to determine what the actual number is for any given month. Sounds like it's not possible. Below is an example.

3 month average:

January - 15

February - 18

March - 19

April - 16

May - 15

Is there a way to determine the actual number for each of the months?

**meyero90** · 08-05-2010, 11:26 AM

What are the averages numbers you have for these dates. I think with a system of equations we can obtain your data points for the desired dates.....when you wrote

May - 15

did you mean May = 15 ?

**miami580** · 08-05-2010, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by meyero90

What are the averages numbers you have for these dates. I think with a system of equations we can obtain your data points for the desired dates.....when you wrote did you mean May = 15 ?

Yes, 15 was the three month average of March, April and May. Each of these numbers represents the trailing 3-month average for that month.

**meyero90** · 08-05-2010, 11:45 AM

you know I think it's not possible unless we make some assumptions...like how many data points are calculated for each month averages... like May average could be the result of 4 data points divided by 4 or x data points divided by x....you see what I mean....so I think we can't do it.