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The median is the exact middle number in a sequence or set of numbers.[1] When you're looking for the median in a sequence that has an odd amount of total numbers, the process is really easy. Finding the median in a sequence that has an even amount of total numbers is a bit harder. To find the median easily and successfully, read on.
Steps
Find the Median in an Odd Set of Numbers
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1Sort your set of numbers from least to greatest. If they're scrambled, line them up, starting with the lowest number and ending with the highest number.[2]
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2Find the number that is exactly in the middle. This means that median number has the same amount of numbers in front of it as it does behind it. Count them to make sure.[3]
- There are two numbers in front of the 3, and two numbers behind it. This tells us that 3 is the number exactly in the middle.
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3Finished. The median of an odd-numbered sequence is always a number in the sequence itself. It is never a number that is not in the sequence.
Find the Median in an Even Set of Numbers
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1Sort out your set of numbers from least to greatest. Again, use the same first step as the first method. An even set of numbers is going to have two numbers exactly in the middle.[4]
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2Find the average of the two numbers in the middle. 2 and 3 are both in the middle, so you need to add 2 and 3, then divide the sum by 2. The formula for finding the average of two numbers is (the sum of the two middle numbers) ÷ 2.[5]
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3Finished. The median of a sequence with even amount of numbers doesn't have to be a number in the sequence itself.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I find the range?
DonaganTop AnswererSubtract the lowest number in the set from the highest number. -
QuestionHow do I find the mode?
Community AnswerThe mode is the digit in the set that appears most often. Example: 9,7,8,2,9,3,9 -- the mode is 9. -
QuestionDo I do anything differently if there are two of the same number?
Community AnswerNo, just treat each occurrence as a separate piece of data and add them just like you would different numbers.
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about learning mathematics, check out our in-depth interview with Jake Adams.
References
- ↑ https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/edu/power-pouvoir/ch11/median-mediane/5214872-eng.htm
- ↑ https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/statistics/mean-median-mode.php
- ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/median.html
- ↑ https://virtualnerd.com/middle-math/probability-statistics/mean-median-mode-range/median-data-set
- ↑ https://www.khanacademy.org/math/statistics-probability/summarizing-quantitative-data/mean-median-basics/a/mean-median-and-mode-review
About This Article
To find the median in a set of numbers, sort the numbers from least to greatest. For a set with an odd amount of numbers, simply find the number that falls exactly in the middle of your list. For an even set of numbers, locate the two numbers in the middle and find the average by adding them together and dividing by two. The median that you calculate can be a decimal or a whole number, depending on the two numbers in the middle. For tips on how to check if you got the right answer, read on!
