Definition Definition

What Is Median? Understanding Median & the Formula with Practical Example

What is Median?

Median is the point in a distribution of scores that divides the distribution precisely in half when the scores are listed in numerical order. It is the number that appears midway between the highest and the lowest numbers in an array. The median is the figure in the center of an ordered, ascending order, or descending order list of numbers, although it might be more informative of that data point than just the mean. 

Definition 2

The median represents one of the types of central tendency. Median in statistics, is the measure of central tendency which divides a group of scores in half, with half the scores falling above the median score and half below.

Definition 3

Median also refers to the part of the dual roadway that divides traffic flowing in different directions. There are several forms of medians, such as paint lines and sometimes even barriers. 

Understanding Median

The median is generally described in mathematics as the midpoint of a given sequence of integers. Arranging the digits yields the median. The numerals are displayed in increasing or decreasing order. The center figure is referred to as the information set's median when the values are arranged.

It is the most straightforward statistical metric to compute. The midpoint of a group of statistics is the figure in the midway or the center of such a collection. To compute the mean, sort the data at first in a sequence of lowest to biggest or biggest to the smallest number. A median will be that number that separates the upper and lower halves of a test dataset, group, or distribution function. The median varies depending on the kind of dispersal.

Formula

  • If the amount of findings is odd, then the median is calculated as follows: Median = {(n+1)/2}th term
  • If the sample sizes is even, the method of calculating the median seems to be as follows: Median = [(n/2)th term + {(n/2)+1}th term]/2

Here, n = number of observations.

Practical Example

  1. It is simple to calculate the median for just a collection with an odd set of measurements. For example, the median for the dataset- 6, 10, 14 is 10 as the observation number is odd 
  2. If the database is already even, then the median will be the arithmetic mean of the central two integers. For example, the median for the dataset- 3, 5, 6, and 9 will be the average of 5 and 6 which is 5.5.
  3. A firm has five senior executive workers. Workers receive wages of $2,000, $7,000, $10,000, $3,000, and $12,000. The median wage is calculated by using the formula.
  • Descending order = $2,000, $3,000, $7,000, $10,000, $12,000.
  • Observations totaled = 5
  • Here, n is 5 which is odd.
  • So, Median =(n+1)/2nd term = [(5+1)/2]th term. = 6/3 = 3rd term= $7,000 dollars.

In Sentences

  • Anomalies have less impact on the median dataset than on the average.
Category: Economics
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