Expert: Josh - 9/9/2008

Question
Hello, I am creating a compensation spreadsheet which contains 3 sections that I want to combined to give a total score.  The total of the first section (Lets call it A) is to be 60% of the overall score.  The total of the second section (B) is 30% of the overall score and the last section (C) is 10% of the total score.  How do I add the total of the three sections in a way that the total score accurately reflects the percentages.

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Lee,

If we represent the components from the three sections by A, B and C, respectively, then the total score is calculated as follows:
(60/100)*A + (30/100)*B + (1/100)*C.

The numbers {60/100,30/100,10/100} correspond to the weights used in the scaling for section A, B and C.

In general, if the weights you wish to assign to the scores in section A, B and C are given by a:b:c, and the three numbers (viz., a, b and c) don't add up to one hundred, then the weighted total is given by

A*a/(a+b+c) + B*b/(a+b+c) + C*c/(a+b+c).