Final answer:
The answer to the question is True. To calculate the average of values in an array, you must first add all the values to get the total, then divide by the number of values to find the average.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked whether the first step in calculating the average of the values in an array is to get the total of the values. The answer is True. When computing an average, also known as the mean, you first add up all the values to get the total. Once you have the total sum of the values, you then divide by the number of values in the array to find the average.
For example, if you have an array of exam scores, you will add up all the scores and then divide by the total number of scores to calculate the average score. This is also referred to as the arithmetic mean and is a measure of central tendency, giving you an insight into the typical value of your data set. In the context of statistics, this average is a parameter when it involves the entire population or a statistic when calculated from a sample.