Question

How would you find the median in a data sample with an odd number of values?


Find the value that has the greatest frequency.


Find the value that has the same number above it and below it.


Find the two middle values and average them


Add the values and divide by the number of values.

Answer 1

To find the median in a data sample with an odd number of values, you would:

1. **Sort the data** in ascending order.
2. **Identify the middle value** by locating the value at the position given by the formula \((n + 1) / 2\), where \(n\) is the number of values in the data set.

So, the correct method for finding the median in a data sample with an odd number of values is **to find the value that has the same number above it and below it (the middle value)**.

To clarify the other options:

- **Find the value that has the greatest frequency** refers to the mode, not the median.
- **Find the two middle values and average them** applies when there is an even number of values (in that case, you average the two central values).
- **Add the values and divide by the number of values** refers to calculating the mean, not the median.

So, the correct method for an odd number of values is indeed finding the middle value as described.