How do you solve a median?

Answer 1

To solve a median, you must first order the set of numbers in increasing order from least to greatest.

i.e. 1, 20, 24, 16, 2, 3, 8, 26 becomes 1, 2, 3, 8, 16, 20, 24, 26

Next, you count the number of numbers and divide by 2.

This will give you the position of the median.

i.e. in the set: 1, 2, 3, 8, 16, 20, 24, 26 there are 8 numbers.

8/2 = 4

so, between the fourth and fifth number is the median.

i.e. 1, 2, 3, 8, | 16, 20, 24, 26

Now that you have the position, you find the half way mark between the two middle numbers (if the set has an odd number of numbers, the median will be the number in the middle of the set of data.)

To do this, you need to add them and divide by 2.

8 + 16 = 24

24/2 = 12

i.e. the median in this case would be twelve.

----

For a case with an odd number of numbers:

1, 5, 3, 5, 2

rearranged as:

1, 2, 3, 5, 5

3 would be the median because it is the absolute middle of the set of data.