What you’ll learn
Calculate median.
Key idea
An odd count has one central value; an even count uses the average of its two central values.
Sort first; even counts require averaging the two middle values, and the sample median does not imply every school student's value.
Worked example
Enter the exact value or ordered values in the format requested below.
The 6 observed reading times in minutes are recorded as (41, 1, 9, 33, 17, 25). Enter the exact median.
- Sort the observations: (1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 41).
- Use the average of the third and fourth ordered values; median=21 minutes.
Answer: 21
Quick Check
Interpret the result of 'Calculate median' in the data-generating context, including units and population limits.
The 5 measured reading times are (3, 8, 13, 18, 23), with median 13 minutes. Select the supported contextual interpretation.