SAT II Math I : Median

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math I

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Example Questions

Example Question #14 : Median

What is the median?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When finding the median, you are looking for the middle number. Always arrange the numbers in ascending order. Since, the numbers are not in inceasing order, let's arrange it. It should look like: . Now, let's count the numbers in the set which is seven. Then divide seven by two. We do this because we will split the number set in half. Because seven doesn't divide evenly into two, this means we can easily determine the median. Since seven divided by two is , we are going to eliminate three numbers from leftmost in number set toward the right direction and three numbers from rightmost in number set toward the left direction. The only number left is  and therefore is the right answer. 

Example Question #15 : Median

What is the median?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When finding the median, you are looking for the middle number. Always arrange the numbers in ascending order. Since, the numbers are inceasing, count the numbers in the set. There are six. Then divide six by two. We do this because we will split the number set in half. Because six does divide evenly into two, this means we can't easily determine the median. Since six divided by two is three, we are going to eliminate three numbers from leftmost in number set toward the right direction and three numbers from rightmost in number set toward the left direction. The last number crossed out in both direction are  and . To find the middle number, just add both numbers and divide by two.

 That's the final answer.

Example Question #16 : Median

What is the median?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When finding the median, you are looking for the middle number. Always arrange the numbers in ascending order. Since, the numbers are not in order, lets arrange them.

The new set is

.

Then, we count the numbers in the set. There are six. Then divide six by two. We do this because we will split the number set in half. Because six does divide evenly into two, this means we can't easily determine the median. Since six divided by two is three, we are going to eliminate three numbers from leftmost in number set toward the right direction and three numbers from rightmost in number set toward the left direction. The last number crossed out in both direction are  and . To find the middle number, just add both numbers and divide by two.

 That's the final answer.

Example Question #17 : Median

What is the median?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When finding the median, you are looking for the middle number. Always arrange the numbers in ascending order. Since, the numbers are not increasing, let's organize it.

The new set is

.

Remember, for negative numbers, the bigger the negative value, the smaller the number is since it's further away in the number line. Now, let's count the numbers in the set. There are six. Then divide six by two. We do this because we will split the number set in half. Because six does divide evenly into two, this means we can't easily determine the median. Since six divided by two is three, we are going to eliminate three numbers from leftmost in number set toward the right direction and three numbers from rightmost in number set toward the left direction. The last number crossed out in both direction are  and . To find the middle number, just add both numbers and divide by two.

 That's the final answer.

Example Question #251 : Basic Statistics

Which of the following statements is/are true for finding a median?

I. Always search for the middle number

II. Always arrange in increasing or decreasing order before searching for the middle number

III. Once arranged, if the set has an even number, just take the two middle numbers and subtract them and divide by two

IV. Once arranged, if the set has an even number, just take the two middle numbers and add them and divide by two

Possible Answers:

I, II, IV

I, II, III

only

II, III

II, IV

Correct answer:

II, IV

Explanation:

Let's look at each statement. 

I. Always search for the middle number

This is false, because what happens if the number set is jumbled. To find median, it's important to oragnize in increasing or decreasing order.

II. Always arrange in increasing or decreasing order before searching for the middle number

As explained in statement one explanation, this is true.

III. Once arranged, if the set has an even number, just take the two middle numbers and subtract them and divide by two

This s false, because once there is an even number set, you need to ADD the middle numbers and divide it by two. Essentially, the new value represents the middle of the set.

IV. Once arranged, if the set has an even number, just take the two middle numbers and add them and divide by two

This is true based on statement three explanation. 

Example Question #19 : Median

If the median of the set is , which of the following is a possibility for the values of  and ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The set is already in increasing order. We have six numbers in the set and we need to ensure the set will have a median of . When there is an even number in the set, we need to take the two middle numbers by adding them then dividing by two. The two middle numbers represent  and .  Let's set up an equation.

.

The numerator represents the two middle numbers being added and divided by the denominator. If we multiply both sides by  we get the sum of the variables to be . So we need to find the sum of  and  to be . The only choices are  and . However,  doesn't work because  is bigger than both  and  and thus changing the median.  is good because both of the values are les than  but greater than 

Example Question #20 : Median

If the median of the set is , which of the following is a possibility for the values of  and ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The set is already in increasing order. We have six numbers in the set and we need to ensure the set will have a median of . When there is an even number in the set, we need to take the two middle numbers by adding them then dividing by two. The two middle numbers represent  and .  Let's set up an equation.

.

The numerator represents the two middle numbers being added and divided by the denominator. If we multiply both sides by , and subtract  on both sides, we get  to be . Finally, to find , we need a number that is greater than or equal to  and less than or equal to . Answer  satisfies all conditions. 

Example Question #321 : Algebra Ii

If we want the median to be , what number can be put into the set to make this true?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The set is already in increasing order. We have five numbers in the set, however, we need to add another number to ensure the set will have a median of . This will make the set have six numbers. When there is an even number in the set, we need to take the two middle numbers by adding them then dividing by two. Let's say this number is . Let's setup an equation.

.

The numerator represents the two middle numbers being added and divided by the denominator. If we multiply both sides by  and subtract  on both sides,  is . Make sure this answer doesn't violate the set.  is less than  but greater than , so therefore  is the correct answer.

Example Question #21 : Median

Find the median of the set:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The median is the middle number of the set, when it is listed in order from smallest to largest or vice versa. In this case we have an even amount of numbers in the set meaning there are two "middle numbers". But for this set, both of those middle numbers are 89, meaning we don't need to take an average. 

 

This gives us the final answer of 89 for the median.

Example Question #22 : Median

Find the median of the set:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The median is the middle number of the set, when it is listed in order from smallest to largest or vice versa. In this case we have an even amount of numbers in the set meaning there are two "middle numbers"- 23 and 25. In order to find the median we take the average of 23 and 25:

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