The **median** is the middle value in a list of numbers. To find the median, the numbers must be arranged in order from smallest to largest. If there is an odd number of values, the median is the middle one. If there is an even number, the median is the average of the two middle numbers.
To calculate the median, follow these steps:
Step 1: Arrange the numbers in increasing order. Step 2: If the number of values is odd, the median is the middle number. Step 3: If the number of values is even, the median is the average of the two middle numbers.
Example 1: Find the median of the numbers 3, 7, 5, 9, 1.
Step 1: Arrange the numbers in increasing order: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Step 2: There are 5 values (odd), so the middle number is 5.
Median = 5
Example 2: Find the median of the numbers 3, 7, 5, 9, 1, 6.
Step 1: Arrange the numbers in increasing order: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 Step 2: There are 6 values (even), so the median is the average of the two middle numbers (5 and 6). Step 3: (5 + 6) / 2 = 11 / 2 = 5.5
Median = 5.5
Find the median of the following numbers:
8, 11, 4, 10, 5
Hint: Arrange the numbers in increasing order and find the middle value.