A calculation method that assigns different levels of importance to different values in a dataset, where each value is multiplied by its weight before averaging. This provides a more accurate representation when some data points are more significant than others.
From Old English 'wiht' (weight, importance) and Arabic 'al-awārīya' (damaged goods) via Old French 'avarie'. The mathematical concept developed in 17th-century probability theory and became essential in 20th-century finance for portfolio calculations.
Imagine calculating your semester GPA where a 4-credit course counts more than a 1-credit course - that's weighted averaging! In finance, it's crucial because owning 1000 shares at $50 should influence your average cost more than owning 100 shares at $60.
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