Median

Definition: The number in the middle of a set ordered from least to greatest.

Examples :
• 2 is the median in the set {1,2,3}
• 2 is also the median in the set {1,1,1,2,4,4,4}
• 33 is also the median in the set {-1,0,1,33,40, 410, 411}

If you there is no number exactly in the middle of a set, then the median is the mean of the two middlemost numbers.

Examples :
• The median in the set {1, 2} is (1+2)/2 = 1.5
• The median in the set {1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4} is (1+2)/2 = 1.5
• In the set {-12,-4, 0 , 20, 22, 234} the median is (0+2 )/2 =1

Related Links

Definition and problems involving the mean

Interactive activity involving median and mean

The sum of four consecutive odd integers w,x,y and z is 24. What is the median of the set{w, x, y, z, 24}?

• 3
• 5
• 7
• 9
• 24

In a set of eleven different numbers, which of the following CANNOT affect the value of the median?

• Doubling each number
• Increasing each number by 10
• Increasing the smallest number only
• Decreasing the largest number only
• Increasing the largest number only

In a set of eleven different numbers, which of the following CANNOT affect the value of the median?

• Doubling each number
• Decreasing the smallest number
• Increasing the smallest number only
• Decreasing the largest number only
• Increasing each number by 10