Basic Arithmetic : Median

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Basic Arithmetic

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Example Questions

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Example Question #41 : Basic Statistics

A P.E. class took the height of every student in inches. These were the results:

Find the median of the class's data set.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Median means the middle of a sorted set of numbers. That is, it is the exact middle of a set of numbers. 

In order to solve for median, we must allign the numbers in order in increasing value.

This number set will become:

As you cross out one number from each side, you will eventually be left with the remaining number if there is an odd number of numbers. If there is an even number of numbers, the median will be the average of the last two remaining numbers. 

Because we're left with two numbers, we must take their mean (average) to solve for the median of the data set.

Example Question #41 : Basic Statistics

Bob recorded the number of hot dogs he ate over the course of the week. On Monday, he ate 13 hot dogs. On Tuesday, he ate 2 hot dogs. On Wednesday, he ate 1 hot dog. On Thursday, he ate 9 hot dogs. On Friday, he ate 12 hot dogs. On Saturday, he ate 9 hot dogs. On Sunday, he ate 3 hot dogs. What was the median number of hot dogs that Bob ate over the course of the week?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The median is the middle number of a set of numbers listed in ascending order.

Start by listing out how many hot dogs Bob ate, in ascending order.

 is the number right in the middle of the set, so it must be the median.

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