Median

Median is a positional average which divides the whole series into two equal parts. 50% of the

items lie below the median and 50% of the items lie above the median. It is defined as the middle

value of the series when arranged either in ascending or descending order.

The term median refers to a metric used in statistics. It is the middle number in a sorted

ascending or descending list of numbers and can be more descriptive of that data set than the

average. It is the point above and below which half (50%) of the observed data falls, and so

represents the midpoint of the data. The median is often compared with other descriptive

statistics such as the mean (average), mode, and standard deviation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 The median is the middle number in a sorted list of numbers and can be more descriptive

of that data set than the average.

 The median is sometimes used as opposed to the mean when there are outliers in the

sequence that might skew the average of the values.

 If there is an odd amount of numbers, the median value is the number that is in the

middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

 If there is an even amount of numbers in the list, the middle pair must be determined,

added together, and divided by two to find the median value.

Understanding the Median

Statistics is a branch of mathematics. It involves the collection and study of data, which allows

researchers to make inferences or determinations about a certain topic. The analysis of

1
quantitative data can be used to study anything from demographics, populations, and

investments among other things.

A median is the middle number in a sorted list of numbers (either ascending or descending)

used in statistical studies. To determine the median value in a sequence of numbers, the

numbers must first be sorted or arranged in value order from lowest to highest or highest to

lowest.

 If there is an odd amount of numbers, the median value is the number that is in the

middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

 If there is an even amount of numbers in the list, the middle pair must be determined,

added together, and divided by two to find the median value.

The median can be used to determine an approximate average, or mean, but is not to be

confused with the actual mean.

The median is sometimes used as opposed to the mean when there are outliers in the sequence

that might skew the average of the values. The median of a sequence can be less affected by

outliers than the mean.

Median vs. Mean

As noted above, it's important not to confuse the terms median and mean. The two may sound

the same (which is a common misconception) but they are very different. A median is a number

that falls in the middle of a group. Remember, this is done by ordering the numbers from

smallest to largest and locating the one that falls in the middle.

2
A mean, on the other hand, is the average of a data set. Also called the arithmetic mean, it is the

average of the sum of the numbers in a group. In order to figure out the mean, you must take the

sum of the numbers in the group and divide the sum by the total number of data points. For

instance, let's say a data set consists of the numbers 3, 5, 7, and 19. To figure out the mean:

Median: What It Is and How to Calculate It, With Examples

What Is the Median?

The term median refers to a metric used in statistics. It is the middle number in a sorted

ascending or descending list of numbers and can be more descriptive of that data set than the

average. It is the point above and below which half (50%) of the observed data falls, and so

represents the midpoint of the data. The median is often compared with other descriptive

statistics such as the mean (average), mode, and standard deviation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 The median is the middle number in a sorted list of numbers and can be more descriptive

of that data set than the average.

 The median is sometimes used as opposed to the mean when there are outliers in the

sequence that might skew the average of the values.

 If there is an odd amount of numbers, the median value is the number that is in the

middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

 If there is an even amount of numbers in the list, the middle pair must be determined,

added together, and divided by two to find the median value.

3
Understanding the Median

Statistics is a branch of mathematics. It involves the collection and study of data, which allows

researchers to make inferences or determinations about a certain topic. The analysis of

quantitative data can be used to study anything from demographics, populations, and

investments among other things.

A median is the middle number in a sorted list of numbers (either ascending or descending)

used in statistical studies. To determine the median value in a sequence of numbers, the

numbers must first be sorted or arranged in value order from lowest to highest or highest to

lowest.

 If there is an odd amount of numbers, the median value is the number that is in the

middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

 If there is an even amount of numbers in the list, the middle pair must be determined,

added together, and divided by two to find the median value.

The median can be used to determine an approximate average, or mean, but is not to be

confused with the actual mean.

The median is sometimes used as opposed to the mean when there are outliers in the sequence

that might skew the average of the values. The median of a sequence can be less affected by

outliers than the mean.

Median vs. Mean

As noted above, it's important not to confuse the terms median and mean. The two may sound

the same (which is a common misconception) but they are very different. A median is a number

4
that falls in the middle of a group. Remember, this is done by ordering the numbers from

smallest to largest and locating the one that falls in the middle.

A mean, on the other hand, is the average of a data set. Also called the arithmetic mean, it is the

average of the sum of the numbers in a group. In order to figure out the mean, you must take the

sum of the numbers in the group and divide the sum by the total number of data points. For

instance, let's say a data set consists of the numbers 3, 5, 7, and 19. To figure out the mean:

Step 1: Arrange the given data in either descending or ascending order.

Step 2: Determine the cumulative frequency; i.e., cf.

Step 3: Calculate the median item using the following formula:

Median = N/2 th item

Where, N = Total of Frequency

Step 4: Now inspect the cumulative frequencie

zs and find out the cf which is either equal to or just greater than the value determined in the

previous step.

Step 5: Now, find the class corresponding to the cumulative frequency equal to or just greater

than the value determined in the third step. This class is known as the median class.

Step 6: Now, apply the following formula for the median:

N
−CF
Median = L + 2 ×C
F

Where,

l1 = lower limit of the median class

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c.f. = cumulative frequency of the class preceding the median class

f = simple frequency of the median class

i = class size of the median group or class

Note: While calculating the median of a given distribution, we have to assume that every class

of the distribution is uniformly distributed in the class interval.

Q.1: calculate median marks of 70 Students of KK College, Berhampur

Marks 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70

Number 10 15 15 10 5 5 10

of

Students

Solutions

Marks (X) Number of CF

Students (f)

0-10 10 10

10-20 15 25

20-30 15 40

30-40 10 50

40-50 5 55

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 50-60 5 60

60-70 10 70

N = 70

Median = N/2 the item = 70/2 = 35 th Item = 20-30

N
−CF 35−25
Median = L + 2 × C = 20 + × 10 = 20 + 6.67 = 26.67
15
F

Q.1: calculate median marks of 70 Students of Science College, Hinjlicut

Marks 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70

Number 5 15 20 5 5 10 10

of

Students

Solution

Marks (X) Number of CF

Students (f)

0-10 5 5

10-20 15 20

20-30 20 40

30-40 5 45

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 40-50 5 50

50-60 10 60

60-70 10 70

N = 70

Median = N/2 the item = 70/2 = 35 th Item = 20-30

N
−CF 35−20
Median = L + 2 × C = 20 + × 10 = 20 + 7.5= 27.5
20
F

If we compare the above groups, Science college students has given good performance

because median value of Science college student is more then median value of KK College.

Merits of Median: -

a) It is easy to understand.

b) It is not affected by the extreme values of a series.

c) Median can be located graphically with the help of ogives.

d) It can be determined easily in open-end series without assuming the lowest or highest

class limits.

e) Median is also used for other statistical devices such as Mean Deviation and skewness.

Demerits of Median: -

a) It is not based on all the observation of the series.

b) It is not capable of further algebraic treatment like arithmetic mean.

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 c) If the number of series is even, we can only make its estimate; as the A.M. of two middle

terms is taken as Median.

d) It is very difficult to calculate if the number of items is very small or large.

Properties of Median: -

a) The sum of the absolute deviation of the item from the median is minimum.

b) If total number of observation is known, then the missing frequencies of a class can be

found out with the help of median.

Conclusion I: Equal number of data point(s) lie before and after the median(s). Conclusion II:

The data point(s) belong(s) to the left of median(s) is/are less than the median, whereas the data

point(s) belong(s) to the right of the median is/are greater than the median.