The median is the middle number out of a set. You find it by looking at the set of numbers and finding the number directly in the middle.
For example, you have this set of numbers:
1, 5, 2, 9, 4, 0, 3, 7, 8, 6
First thing you would do is organize them by numeric value:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Next, you figure out which number is in the middle. You can do this two ways:
1 - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | Covering up each number on both sides until you get to the middle (not exactly professional, but it gets the job done lol)
2 - Count the total number of numbers in the set and divide that by 2. Your median will be somewhere around that number. In this set, you have 10 numbers. 10 divided by 2 is 5. The fifth number is the set is 4. The sixth number in the set is 5. Since there is an even amount of numbers in the entire set, you will take the middle two, 4 and 5, add them together, and divide them by 2. You will get 4.5 as the median for this particular set of numbers.
But as you progress in grades, the sets will become more difficult; you will find that the numbers are becoming farther and farther apart, or you may start using numbers with decimals. Regardless, if the total number of numbers in a set is even, take the middle two numbers, divide them by 2, and that is your median. If the total number of numbers in a set is odd, there will be only one number that serves as your median. Allow me to show you:
Your set: 23, 37, 49, 52, 64
The middle number, or median, is 49. That is the number directly in the center of the set.
I hope this wasn't too long, but the fact that I have to scroll while I am typing the answer says it is. Regardless, I wanted to help you. I hope this helps!
- Chris
