Question

is the median the middle number? if so what do you do when there are two in the middle?

Answer 1

The median is the middle number. If there are two middle numbers, you basically find the average of the two numbers. You add them, then divide by two and that is your median. Do you understand ?

Answer 2

yes, thank you. I just havent done mean, meadian, and mode in so long I forget these things XD

Answer 3

lol...I understand.....if you don't use it that much, then it might be forgotten

Answer 4

medians are not simply the mean or average of a set

Answer 5

@nincompoop you just confused me on so many levels with that :/

Answer 6

if there are two medians, then it is the average of the two numbers

Answer 7

not the average of the whole set of numbers

Answer 8

right that would be the mean...I just dont undestand why he would out that there :/

Answer 9

lets say your two medians are 50 and 30. You add those and you get 80. You then divide by 2 and you get 40. So your median would be 40. Got it ?

Answer 10

yes I got that :)

Answer 11

let us cite an example:
find the median in the set {13, 23, 11, 16, 15, 10, 26}
solution:
first, rearrange them from lowest to highest value
{10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 23, 26}
then look for the element within the set that is in the middle. So you would count each step from the right side and the left side until it meets in the middle
In this case it is 15
so your median in the set {10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 23, 26} is the element 15

Answer 12

He is asking if there are two middle numbers not just one

Answer 13

If that happens, you take the average of the two middle numbers to find the median

Answer 14

I understand how to do it now. I just didn't understand this "medians are not simply the mean or average of a set"

Answer 15

it is nice and dandy if the number of elements within the set is an odd just like the example I provided. but what if it were even. Then in that case, you would average the two elements
(A+B)/2
where A and B are the two medians of a set

Answer 16

exactly what I have been saying

Answer 17

ok guys I get it now

Answer 18

good...I am glad you understand :)

Answer 19

an elaboration by means of example is needed to make our explanations clear :P