Skip to content
My Glossary Project

Median

TL;DR

Section titled “TL;DR”
  • The median identifies the central value of an ordered dataset.
  • It is commonly used to compare datasets and to identify trends.
  • Unlike the mean, the median is not influenced by extreme values.

Definition

Section titled “Definition”

Median is a statistical measure that refers to the middle value in a set of numbers and is used to determine the central tendency of a dataset.

Explanation

Section titled “Explanation”

To find the median, arrange the values in numerical order and select the middle value. The median provides a measure of central tendency that is often preferred over the average (mean) when extreme values might skew the mean. The median is therefore used to compare different sets of data or to identify trends within a dataset.

Examples

Section titled “Examples”

Test scores example

Section titled “Test scores example”

Consider a group of 10 students who take a math test. The scores on the test are:

  • 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120

Arranged in numerical order:

  • 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120

The middle value in this set is 100, so the median score is 100.

In this example, the median score is a better representation of the central tendency of the scores than the average, or mean, score. This is because the mean is easily influenced by extreme values, such as the highest and lowest scores in the set. In this case, the mean score would be 100.5, which is higher than the median score and does not accurately reflect the scores of the majority of the students.

Real estate example

Section titled “Real estate example”

If a neighborhood has 10 houses that are sold, with the sale prices being:

  • 200,000,200,000, 225,000, 250,000,250,000, 275,000, 300,000,300,000, 325,000, 350,000,350,000, 375,000, 400,000,400,000, 425,000

The median sale price would be $300,000, as it is the middle value in the set of sale prices. This is a more accurate representation of the typical sale price in the neighborhood, as it is not influenced by extreme values such as the highest and lowest sale prices.

Use cases

Section titled “Use cases”
  • Comparing different sets of data.
  • Identifying trends within a dataset.
  • Reporting typical values (example: typical sale price in a neighborhood).

Notes or pitfalls

Section titled “Notes or pitfalls”
  • The mean (average) can be influenced by extreme values; the median is often used when such extremes would distort the mean.
Section titled “Related terms”
  • Mean (average)