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it's (the result) is being treated as an integer in your query, but that's not true in Excel.
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it's (the result) is being treated as an integer in your query, but that's not true in Excel.

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see the difference this way perhaps:<br />
<br />
select avg(data), avg(data*1.0) from table1<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sqlfiddle.com/#!3/2efbb/2" rel="ugc">http://sqlfiddle.com/#!3/2efbb/2</a>
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see the difference this way perhaps:

select avg(data), avg(data*1.0) from table1

http://sqlfiddle.com/#!3/2efbb/2 [http://sqlfiddle.com/#!3/2efbb/2]

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SELECT AVG(CAST(DataIn as REAL)) AS &nbsp;FROM AVGTABLE
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SELECT AVG(CAST(DataIn as REAL)) AS  FROM AVGTABLE

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thanks &amp;&nbsp;cheers, Paul
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
The sample data is attached.<br />
When i find the average using excel for set of observations the output varies in excel and sql server.<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/06_w24/659348/Difference--in-Output.xlsx" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="sample data (9 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>Difference--in-Output.xlsx</a>
</div>
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Difference--in-Output.xlsx

The sample data is attached.
When i find the average using excel for set of observations the output varies in excel and sql server.

Why the difference comes in excel and sql server while using avg function,

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. Major improvements include the  Always On technologies and support for unstructured data types.