JAGUIMIT, KAILAH KRISTINE C.

BSED-ENGLISH 3A
BSED-ENGLISH 3A EDUC 9

MODULE 7.1.2
MEDIAN

What is median?

The median ( ) is a measure of central tendency appearing at the centermost element, or

number, or observation in a given data set. Median of a data set is defined to be the
middlemost value when the values of the variable are arranged in order of magnitude, i.e.,
either in increasing or in decreasing order. The median divides the entire set of observations
into two equal halves, i.e., the number values less than the median is equal to the number of
values greater than the median.

How to find the median of ungrouped data?

There are two types of formulas in finding the median of ungrouped data. One for the odd
number of observation and the other for the even number of observation.

Median of Odd Number of Observation

To find the median of odd number of observations we will use the formula:

  n  1   th
x~    
 2  
n = number of observation

Example:

David's family has 9 children aged 14, 7, 3, 18, 12, 17, 22, 20, 24 years. What is the age of
the middle child?

Step 1: Arrange the data in ascending order.

3, 7, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24

Step 2: Apply the formula

  n  1   th
~x   
 2 
We have the 5th term that will represent the age
  9  1   th
~x   
of the middle child. The 5th term of the arranged
 2  set of data is 17. So, the age of the middle child
is 17 and that is basically the median of the
10  th
~x   
given set of data.
 2 

= 5th term MEDIAN = 17

Median of Even Number of Observation

To find the median of even number of observations we will use the formula:

~x  1 size of  nth  n  2th  observatio n 

2  2 2  

n = number of observation

Example:
Wages of 8 employee work for a company are listed below. What is the median wage?

1500, 3000, 500, 2000, 4500, 2500, 4000, 3500

Step 1: Arrange the data in ascending order.

500, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500

Step 2: Apply the formula.

~x  1 size of  nth  n  2th  observatio n 

2  2 2  

~x  1 size of  8th  8  2th  observatio n 

2  2 2  
~x  1 size of 4th  5th  observatio n 
2
~x  1 2,500  3,000 
2
~x  5,500
2
~x  2,750

Therefore, the median wage is 2,750.

How to find the median of grouped data (discrete & continuous)?

For the grouped frequency distribution of a discrete variable or a continuous variable the
calculation of the median involves identifying the median class, i.e. the class containing the
median. This can be done by calculating the less than type cumulative frequencies.

Median of Grouped Data (Discrete)

Discrete distribution is one in which the data can only take on certain values. Discrete data
is a numerical data that includes whole, concrete numbers with specific and fixed data values
determined by counting.

Example:
5 coins are tossed 12 times. The number of frequency distribution is shown in the table.
 No. of tails Frequency (f)
2 3
4 5
3 2
1 2
n  12

Step 1: Find the cumulative frequency.

Cumulative frequency (cf) - is used to determine the number of observations that lie above
(or below) a particular value in a data set. It is calculated by adding each frequency from a
frequency distribution table to the sum of its predecessors.

No. of tails Frequency (f) cf

2 3 3
4 5 8
3 2 10
1 2 12
n  12
Step 2 : Determine median using cumulative frequency.

Formula:
 n  th
 
Median = class containing  2  observation.

~x   12  th observation
2
~x  6 th
x~  4

No. of Frequency cf
tails (f) This class contains the 6th observation
2 3 3 because we have 8, and 6 is less than
and closer to 8. So, we have to
4 5 8
consider this class. This mean that 6
3 2 10 lies in this class.
So the median of this given data will
1 2 12 be 4.

Median of Grouped Data (Continuous)

Continuous distribution is one in which the data can only take on any value within a
specified range (which may be infinite). Continuous data includes complex numbers an varying
data values that are measured over a specific time interval.

Example:
Compute the median of the test scores of the students.
 Scores Frequency
26 - 30 3
31 - 35 8
36 - 40 14
41 - 45 9
46 - 50 2

Formula:

  f 
 2   cf 
x~  lb mc    i
 f mc 
 

lb mc  lower boundary of the median class

 f  total frequency

 cf  cumulative frequency of the lower class

f mc  frequency of the median class

i  class width

Step 1. Find the values of the symbols found in the formula.

 f  Scores Frequency <cf

 2   cf 
~x  lb mc    i
26 - 30 3 3
 f mc
 31 - 35 8 11
  36 - 40 14 25
41 - 45 9 34
lb mc  36 - 0.5  35.5
46 - 50 2 36
 cf  11
 f  36
fmc  14
 f 36
i5   18
2 2

The row that is highlighted in the table is the median class. We determine our median class
based on the half of the total frequency (Σf/2) which is 18. The lower boundary (lb) of the
median class is determined when the lower limit of median class is subtracted by 0.5. The
cumulative frequency of the lower class (<cf) is 11 and its frequency (f) is 11. Class width (i) is
determined by the difference of the upper limit and the lower limit in any of the class interval.
Step 2. Solve

 f 
 2   cf 
~x  lb mc    i
 f mc 
 
 18  11 
 35 .5   5
 14 
7
 35 .5    5
 14  Median of the test
35 scores is 38.
 35 .5 
14
 35 .5  2 .5
Median  38

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Median

Advantages:

1. It is easy and simple. Median is easy to calculate and simple to understand. In many
situations, the median can be located simply by inspection.

2. It can be computed in case of frequency with an open-ended classes.

3. Median is best when the distribution is skewed.

4. Unaffected by extreme values. The extreme values in the data set do not affect the
calculation of the median value.

5. Possible in case of incomplete data.

6. Appropriate for qualitative data. Median can be used to deal with qualitative characteristics
which cannot be measured quantitatively.

Disadvantages:

1. Arrangement is required. It required sorting of data before its calculation.

2. It is not based on all the observations. Median, being a positional average, is not based on
each and every item of the distribution.

3. It cannot be given for further analysis.