1. What is Median?

The median is the middle value in a sorted list of numbers. Unlike the mean (average), the median is not affected by extremely large or small values, making it a robust measure of central tendency.

2. How Is Median Calculated?

The median is calculated as follows:

Steps to calculate median:

1. Sort the data in ascending order
2. Count the number of values (n)
3. If n is odd: median = middle value
4. If n is even: median = average of two middle values

Example 1 (odd count): For [3, 1, 5] → sorted [1, 3, 5] → median = 3

Example 2 (even count): For [4, 2, 6, 1] → sorted [1, 2, 4, 6] → median = (2+4)/2 = 3

3. Importance of Median

Details: The median is particularly useful when dealing with skewed distributions or datasets with outliers, as it provides a better representation of the "typical" value than the mean in these cases.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter numbers separated by commas (e.g., 5, 3, 8, 1). The calculator will sort the numbers and find the median. Non-numeric values will be ignored.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When should I use median instead of mean?
A: Use median when your data has outliers or is skewed. The median is less affected by extreme values than the mean.

Q2: Can median be used for categorical data?
A: No, median is only meaningful for ordinal or numerical data where values can be ordered.

Q3: What's the difference between median and mode?
A: Median is the middle value, while mode is the most frequently occurring value in a dataset.

Q4: How does median handle empty datasets?
A: Median is undefined for empty datasets. Our calculator will show no result if no valid numbers are entered.

Q5: Is median affected by data scaling?
A: No, multiplying all values by a constant will multiply the median by that constant, but the relative position remains the same.