Median: What is the median of a data set?

Median: What is the median of a data set?

• A. The mean of the data
• B. The largest value
• C. The middle value when data are ordered
• D. The most frequent value

Answer: (C)

The median is the middle value of a data set when the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest. If there are an odd number of data points, the median is the exact middle value. If there are an even number, there isn’t a single middle value, so the median is the average of the two central numbers. For example, in 4, 7, 9, 10 the median is (7 + 9) / 2 = 8; in 1, 3, 5 the median is 3. The median is a measure of central tendency that isn’t as affected by extreme outliers as the mean, which is the average of all values. It is distinct from the largest value (the maximum) and from the most frequent value (the mode). The middle value when data are ordered captures a central point of the data without being swayed by unusually large or small numbers.

The median is the middle value of a data set when the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest. If there are an odd number of data points, the median is the exact middle value. If there are an even number, there isn’t a single middle value, so the median is the average of the two central numbers. For example, in 4, 7, 9, 10 the median is (7 + 9) / 2 = 8; in 1, 3, 5 the median is 3. The median is a measure of central tendency that isn’t as affected by extreme outliers as the mean, which is the average of all values. It is distinct from the largest value (the maximum) and from the most frequent value (the mode). The middle value when data are ordered captures a central point of the data without being swayed by unusually large or small numbers.