Question

Suppose you have the following set of data: 2 mL, 4 mL, 6 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL What is the median of the data set?

Answer 1

7 mL

Explanation:

First, arrange the numbers in increasing order from smallest to largest. If there is an odd number of numbers, the median is the middle one. If there is an even number of numbers, the median is the arithmetic mean of the middle two numbers (also called the average; add the two numbers and divide by 2).

2 mL, 4 mL, 6 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL

There are 6 numbers shown in increasing order.

2 mL, 4 mL, 6 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL, 8 mL

Find the arithmetic mean of the middle two numbers, and that is the median.

(6 mL + 8 mL)/2 = 14 mL/2 = 7 mL