Median

Here you will learn about the median, including what the median is and how to find it.

Students will first learn about the median as part of statistics and probability in 6 th grade.

What is the median?

The median is the middle number of a data set, which is found by arranging the values in ascending order from the smallest value to the highest value and finding the middle value.

For example, find the median:

5 \hspace{0.5cm} 8 \hspace{0.5cm} 10 \hspace{0.5cm} 11 \hspace{0.5cm} 13

The median is 10.

[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

Use this quiz to check your 6th grade students’ understanding of averages and range. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 6th grade averages and range topics to identify areas of strength and support!

DOWNLOAD FREE
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[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

[FREE] Averages and Range Check for Understanding (Grade 6)

Use this quiz to check your 6th grade students’ understanding of averages and range. 10+ questions with answers covering a range of 6th grade averages and range topics to identify areas of strength and support!

DOWNLOAD FREE

When there is an odd number of values, finding the middle value can be relatively straightforward.

You can use a formula to help you find the position of the median:

\text{median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th} \ \text{value}

Where n is the number of values. So when n=5, the median is the 3^\text{rd} value.

\text{position of the median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=(\cfrac{5+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=3^\text{rd} \, \text{value}

However, when there is an even number of values, you get a middle pair. In this case, to find the median you need to find the average or arithmetic mean of the middle pair of values.

For example, find the median:

3 \hspace{0.5cm} 5 \hspace{0.5cm} 8 \hspace{0.5cm} 10 \hspace{0.5cm} 11 \hspace{0.5cm} 13

The middle pair of values is 8 and 10. The average of 8 and 10 is 9.

You find this by adding the two values together and dividing by 2.

\cfrac{8+10}{2}=\cfrac{18}{2}=9

The median is 9.

You can use a formula to help you find the position of the median:

\text{median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th} \ \text{value}

Where n is the number of values. So when n=6, the median is the 3.5^\text{th} value, so the midpoint of the 3^\text{rd} and 4^\text{th} values.

\text{position of the median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=(\cfrac{6+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=3.5^\text{th} \, \text{value}

The median is a measure of central tendency because it describes a set of numbers by identifying a central position or middle point within the data.

What is the median?

What is the median?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to 6 th grade math?

  • Grade 6 – Statistics and Probability (6.SP.B.5c)
    Giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any overall pattern and any striking deviations from the overall pattern with reference to the context in which the data were gathered.

How to find the median

In order to find the median:

  1. Order the list of numbers.
  2. Find the middle number.
  3. Write down the median.

Median examples

Example 1: odd number of values

Find the median of this set of data:

  1. Order the list of numbers.

The list of numbers is not in order, so you need to put the numbers in ascending order from smallest value to largest value.

2Find the middle number.

To find the middle number, you can count in from the bottom and the top of the list.

3Write down the median.

The median value is 11.

Alternatively there is a formula you can use to find the position of the median.

\text{median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th} \, \text{value}

Where n is the number of values. So when n=5, the median is the 3^\text{rd} value.

\text{position of the median}=(\cfrac{n+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=(\cfrac{5+1}{2}) \, ^\text{th}=3^\text{rd} \, \text{value}

The median is 11.

Example 2: odd number of values

Find the median of the following data:

Order the list of numbers.

Find the middle number.

Write down the median.

Example 3: odd number of values

Find the median:

Order the list of numbers.

Find the middle number.

Write down the median.

Example 4: even number of values

Find the median:

Order the list of numbers.

Find the middle number.

Write down the median.

Example 5: even number of values

Find the median:

Order the list of numbers.

Find the middle number.

Write down the median.

Example 6: even number of values

Find the median:

Order the list of numbers.

Find the middle number.

Write down the median.

Teaching tips for median

  • Provide a real-life scenario where the median can be applied. For example, you can talk about finding the median age or median income of a group of people or the median score in a sports tournament. This helps students understand the relevance of the concept.

  • Talk about how outliers can affect the median. Explain that outliers are extreme values that are significantly different from the other values in a data set. Show examples where removing or including outliers can change the median value.

Easy mistakes to make

  • Not placing numbers in ascending order
    Check that the list of numbers is in numerical order before finding the median number.

  • Thinking that the median must be a number shown in the data set
    The median can be a number that is not in the original data set.
    When there is an odd number of values, the median is one of the original values.
    When there is an even number of values, it is acceptable that the median is NOT one of the original values.

  • Confusing median with mean or mode
    The mean is the average of all the values, the median is the middle value, and the mode is the most frequently occurring value(s) in a data set. Each measure provides different information about the data and is useful in different scenarios.

Practice median questions

1. Find the median.

 

Median image 29 US

13
GCSE Quiz False

14.5
GCSE Quiz False

15
GCSE Quiz True

14
GCSE Quiz False

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value.

 

Median image 30 US

 

The middle value is 15, so this is the median.

2. Find the median.

 

Median image 31 US

17
GCSE Quiz False

14
GCSE Quiz True

11
GCSE Quiz False

15
GCSE Quiz False

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value.

 

Median image 32 US

 

The middle value is 14, so this is the median.

3. Find the median.

 

Median image 33 US

13
GCSE Quiz False

17
GCSE Quiz False

15
GCSE Quiz False

18
GCSE Quiz True

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value.

 

Median image 34 US

 

The middle value is 18, so this is the median.

4. Find the median.

 

Median image 35 US

20
GCSE Quiz False

23
GCSE Quiz False

21.5
GCSE Quiz True

21
GCSE Quiz False

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value. Since this data set has an odd number of observations, we need to find the mean of the middle pair of values.

 

Median image 36 US

 

The middle pair of values are 20 and 23. The average of these is 21.5. The median is 21.5.

 

\cfrac{20+23}{2}=\cfrac{43}{2}=21.5

5. Find the median.

 

Median image 37 US

11
GCSE Quiz False

15
GCSE Quiz False

9.5
GCSE Quiz False

14
GCSE Quiz True

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value. Since this data set has an odd number of observations, we need to find the mean of the middle pair of values.

 

Median image 38 US

 

The middle pair of values are 13 and 15. The average of these is 14. The median is 14.

 

\cfrac{13+15}{2}=\cfrac{28}{2}=14

6. These are the heights, in meters, of members of a water polo team. Find the median height of the 7 players.

 

Median image 39 US

1.76
GCSE Quiz True

1.72
GCSE Quiz False

1.78
GCSE Quiz False

1.71
GCSE Quiz False

Put the numbers in ascending order from the smallest value to largest value. Then find the middle value.

 

Median image 40 US

Median FAQs

What is the median?

The median is the middle number of a data set, which is found by arranging the values in ascending order from the smallest value to the highest value and finding the middle value.

How do you find the median of a data set with an even number of data points?

To find the median of a data set with an even number of data points, you need to find the average or arithmetic mean of the middle pair of values.

What are descriptive statistics?

Descriptive statistics are used to summarize or organize a data set. Some common descriptive statistics are mean, median, mode, and range.

What is the median in geometry?

In geometry, the median refers to a line segment that connects a vertex of a triangle or a polygon to the midpoint of the opposite side. It divides the shape into two equal parts.

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