6.2. The Median http://www.ck12.org
The median is 8.
b) The first stem is to organize the data –arrange the numbers from smallest to largest.
3 , 9 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 1 , 6 , 4 , 2 , 5 → 1 , 2 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9
The number of data is an even number so the median will be the mean of the number found before and the number
found after then+ 21 position.
n+ 1
2=
10 + 1
2
=
11
2
= 5. 5
The number found before the 5.5 position is 4 and the number found after is 5.
1 , 2 , 2 , 3 ,4, 5, 5 , 6 , 7 , 9
Therefore the median is^4 + 25 =^92 = 4. 5
Example 2:The weekly earnings for workers at a local factory are as follows:
$450 $550 $425 $600 $375 $475 $550 $500 $425
$400 $500 $475 $525 $450 $575
What is the median of the earnings?
Solution:
$375 $400 $425 $425 $450 $450 $475 $475 $500
$500 $525 $550 $550 $575 $600
There is an odd number of data so the median will be the value in the 8thposition.
The median of the earnings is $475.
Often a survey will result in a large number of data and organizing the data to determine the median can take a great
deal of time. To help with this task, you can use the TI83 calculator.
Example 3:A local Internet company conducted a survey of 50 users of home computers with Internet access to
estimate the number of hours they spent each week on the Internet. The following table contains the estimates
provided by the users: