Question

What is the median of the data set?

Answer 1

Answer:  8.5  (choice B)

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Explanation:

The diagram shows us we have this data set

{5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10}

Cross off the outer most items (the 5 and the second 10) to get this smaller set

{8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10}

Repeat the last step of crossing off the outer most items to get

{8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9}

Keep this process going until we have this set of steps

{8, 8, 9, 9}

{8, 9}

We have two items left, which are tied for the middle, so we compute the midpoint

(8+9)/2 = 17/2 = 8.5 is the median

This is the middle most value