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Calculate the median of the following data set: 12, 15, 14, 18, 20, 25, 22.
18
20
15
19
18
Quickly arrange the numbers by marking extremities, then pick the exact middle term since n = 7 is odd.
Given data set: 12, 15, 14, 18, 20, 25, 22 and total number of terms n = 7
extMedian=(2n+1тАЛ)th┬аterm
Quickly arrange the numbers by marking extremities, then pick the exact middle term since n = 7 is odd.
Forgetting to sort the data set into ascending or descending order before picking the middle value.
Arrange Data
Sort the given data set in ascending order to apply the median position formula: 12,14,15,18,20,22,25.
12,14,15,18,20,22,25
Count Observations
Identify the total number of observations, which is n=7 (an odd number).
n=7
Find Median Position
Apply the median formula for an odd number of terms: (2n+1тАЛ)th term.
extPosition=27+1тАЛ=4th┬аterm
Extract Median Value
Locate the 4th term in the sorted array, which corresponds to 18.
extMedian=18
A is correct because when the data set is arranged in ascending order (12,14,15,18,20,22,25), the 4th term is 18.
Always ensure the data is sorted first; sorting is also a prerequisite for finding quartiles, deciles, and percentiles.