Median Calculation Examples

Click the tabs to view the median calculation examples below.

Example 1

Example 2

To find the median of the data set {3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 2, 1}, complete the following steps:

  1. Rank data: {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9}.
  2. Determine depth of median: `d(x̄) = (n+1) / 2 = (7+1)/2 =8/2 = 4`.
  3. Count from either end in the ranked data: {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7}
  4. Notice that the median separates the ranked data into two equal sets.

The median is 5.

To find the median of the data set {5, 6, 10, 14, 3}, complete the following steps:

  1. Rank data: {3, 5, 6, 10}.
  2. Determine depth of median: `d(x̄) = (n + 1)/2 = (4 + 1) / 2 = 5/2 = 2.5`.
  3. Count from either end in the ranked data: {3, 5, 6, 10}. The median is halfway between the two values. The median is `x̄ = (5+6)/2 = 5.5`, a number halfway between the middle values.