Question

The chart shows the low temperature each day in International Falls, Minnesota, during the month of February 2009. What was the median low temperature in International Falls for the first week of the month?

Answer 1

The median of low temperature in International Falls for the first week of the month is -8.

Explanation:

From the given table it is noticed that the low temperature in International Falls for the first week of the month are

`6^(\circ)F,-9^(\circ)F,-29^(\circ)F,-31^(\circ)F,-8^(\circ)F,4 ^(\circ)F,3^(\circ)F`

Arrange these values in ascending order.

-31, -29, -9, -8, 3, 4, 6

The total number of observations is 7, which is an odd number. So median of the sample is

`Median=(n+1)/(2)=(7+1)/(2)=4\text{ th term}`

The 4th term of the sample observations is -8, therefore the median of low temperature in International Falls for the first week of the month is -8.

Answer 2

I think you have to list all of the temperatures in order from least to greatest during the first week (-31, -29, -9, -8, 3, 4, 6) in which case the median would be -8.

I hope this helps you and if you know the answer is wrong please let me know in the comments and I will take another look at the question to see if I can figure out the correct answer.