1. What is Median?

The median is the middle value in a sorted list of numbers. It's a measure of central tendency that divides the data set into two equal halves.

2. How Median is Calculated

The median is calculated by:

Steps:

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

3. When to Use Median

Details: Median is preferred over mean when:

• Data has outliers that might skew the mean
• Data is skewed (not normally distributed)
• Working with ordinal data

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter numbers separated by commas (e.g., 5, 3, 8, 1, 2)
• Non-numeric values will be automatically filtered out
• At least one valid number is required

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between median and mean?
A: Mean is the average (sum divided by count), while median is the middle value. Median is less affected by outliers.

Q2: When should I use median instead of mean?
A: Use median for skewed distributions or when outliers are present. Use mean for normally distributed data.

Q3: How does median handle even number of values?
A: For even counts, the median is calculated as the average of the two middle numbers in the sorted list.

Q4: Can median be calculated for non-numeric data?
A: Yes, median can be found for ordinal data (data that can be ranked), but not for nominal categories.

Q5: Why is median called a robust statistic?
A: Because it's resistant to outliers and extreme values that might dramatically affect the mean.