Median

Median: The value of the data that occupies the middle position when data is ranked according to numerical value.

The next measure of central tendency is called the median. The median is the value of the data that occupies the middle position when data is ranked according to size. For ungrouped data, x̄ (read "sample median") represents the median.

Use the following procedure to find the median:

  1. Rank the data (according to size).
  2. Determine the depth of the median.
    • Use the following formula to determine the median's depth (number of positions from either end), or position:
      Depth of median: `d(x̄) = (n + 1)/(2)`
  3. Determine the value of the median.
    • Count the ranked data and located (x̄). Regardless of which end of the data you start with, the result should be the same.