1. What is Median?

The median is the middle value in a sorted list of numbers. Unlike the mean (average), the median is less affected by extremely large or small values, making it a robust measure of central tendency.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator follows these steps:

Steps:

1. Sort all numbers 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: For numbers 3, 1, 7, 5:

1. Sorted: 1, 3, 5, 7
2. n = 4 (even)
3. Median = (3 + 5) / 2 = 4

3. Importance of Median

Details: The median is particularly useful when:

• Data has outliers that might skew the mean
• Working with ordinal data or non-normal distributions
• Reporting income, housing prices, or other skewed distributions

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter numbers separated by commas (e.g., 5, 2, 9, 1, 7)
• Spaces before/after commas are optional
• Non-numeric values will be automatically filtered out
• At least one valid number is required

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 mean is more appropriate for normally distributed data without extreme values.

Q2: What's the difference between median and average?
A: Average typically refers to the mean (sum divided by count), while median is the middle value. They can be quite different in skewed distributions.

Q3: How does median handle even vs. odd number of values?
A: For odd counts, it's the exact middle. For even counts, it's the average of the two middle values.

Q4: Can median be calculated for non-numeric data?
A: Yes, median can be calculated for ordinal data (e.g., survey responses like "poor, fair, good").

Q5: Is median affected by extreme values?
A: No, that's one of its main advantages over the mean. Extreme values don't affect the median as long as they don't change which value is in the middle.