Median sounds like middle.
Missing the Middle?
To find the median of a
set containing an even
number of items, take the
average of the two middle
numbers.Let’s see how this idea might be tested:
23.
Five samples of each of three different rock types were collected on a hiking
trip in Colorado. Each sample was analyzed for its gold content. The
milligrams of gold found in each sample are presented in the table above. How
much larger is the median of the amount of gold in the granite samples than that
of the limestone samples?
A) 0.00
B) 0.37
C) 0.45
D) 0.55Here’s How to Crack It
Start by putting the gold weights for limestone in order to get:
0.41, 0.42, 0.45, 0.55, 0.58The median for limestone is the middle number: 0.45 mg.
Next, place the gold weights for granite in order to get:
0.55, 0.73, 0.82, 0.87, 0.94