Median

Median:
Median of a distribution is the value of the variable such that the number of
observations above it is equal to the number of observations below it. For a given
data, it may be thought of as the "middle" value.
For example, in the data set [1, 3, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9], the median is 6, the fourth largest,
and the fourth smallest, number in the sample.

Median of Ungrouped Individual Observations:

In case of individual observations, arrange the observations 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 in
ascending or descending order.
𝑛+1
• If n is odd, then median is the value of ( ) th observation.
2
𝑛 𝑛
( )𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑( +1)𝑡ℎ
• If n is even, then median is the value of 2 2
observations.
2

Median of Discrete Frequency Distribution:

• In case of a discrete frequency distribution 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑓𝑖 , 𝑖 = 1, 2, … , 𝑛; arrange
the data in ascending or descending order and then find the cumulative
frequencies (𝑐𝑓).
𝑁
• Find , where N=∑ 𝑓𝑖 .
2
𝑁
• See the cumulative frequency (𝑐𝑓) just greater than . The corresponding
2
value of x is median.

Median of Continuous Frequency Distribution:

Algorithm:
𝑁
• Prepare the cumulative frequency column and obtain 𝑁 = ∑ 𝑓𝑖 and .
2
𝑁
• See the cumulative frequency just greater than and determine the
2
corresponding class. This class is known as median class.
𝑁⁄ −𝐶
• Calculate median as 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 = 𝑙 + ( 2𝑓 ) ℎ, where 𝑙 = lower limit, 𝑓=
frequency of the median class, ℎ = width of the median class, 𝐶 =
cumulative frequency of the class preceding the median class.
Example: The following are the marks of 9 students in a class. Find the median.
34, 32, 48, 38, 24, 30, 27, 21, 35.
a) 24
b) 32
c) 34
d) None of these
𝑛+1
Solution: If n is odd, then median is the value of ( ) th observation.
2
If n = 9, then median is 5th term
Arranging ascending 21, 24, 27, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38, 48
Median = 32.

Example: Ten observations 6, 14, 15, 17, x+1, 2x-13, 30, 32, 34 and 43 are
written in ascending order. The median of the data is 24. What is the value of x?
a) 15
b) 18
c) 20
d) 24
𝑛 𝑛
( )𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑( +1)𝑡ℎ
2 2
Solution: If n is even, then median is the value of observations
2
5𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚+6𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
So, Median=
2
𝑥+1+2𝑥−13
Median=
2
3𝑥−12
⇒ 24 =
2
⇒ 𝑥 = 20

Example: If the median of the following frequency distribution is 46, find the
missing frequencies.

a) 34, 45
b) 35, 44
c) 34, 44
d) 33, 45
229
𝑁⁄ −𝐶 ( −42−𝑓1 )
Solution: 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 = 𝑙 + ( 2𝑓 ) ℎ ⇒ 46 = 40 + 10 2
65
⇒ 𝑓1 = 34
𝑓1 + 𝑓2 = 79 ⇒ 𝑓2 = 45
So, the missing frequencies are 34 and 45

Example: Some measures of central tendency for n discrete observations are

given below.
1. Arithmetic Mean, 2. Geometric Mean, 3. Harmonic Mean, 4. Median
A desirable property of a measure of central tendency is, if every observation is
multiplied by c, then the measure of central tendency is also multiplied by c,
where c>0. Which of the above measures satisfy the property?
a) 1, 2 & 3
b) 1, 2 & 4
c) 3 & 4
d) 1, 2, 3 & 4
Solution: Let the observations be 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 … (1.)
If every observation is multiplied by c, then 𝑐𝑥1 , 𝑐𝑥2 , … , 𝑐𝑥𝑛 … (2.)
∑ 𝑥𝑛
The arithmetic mean for (1.) is
𝑛
∑ 𝑥𝑛
The arithmetic mean for (2.) is 𝑐. , as c will be common out.
𝑛
The geometric mean for (1.) is (𝑥1 . 𝑥2 . … . 𝑥𝑛 )1/𝑛
The geometric mean for (2.) is (𝑐𝑥1 . 𝑐𝑥2 . … . 𝑐𝑥𝑛 )1/𝑛 = 𝑐 𝑛.1/𝑛 (𝑥1 . 𝑥2 . … . 𝑥𝑛 )1/𝑛
Similarly, it will be true for harmonic mean and median.
So, option (d.) is true.