Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Practice Exam

How do you find the median of a data set?

1. By averaging all the numbers in the data set

2. By arranging the numbers in order and identifying the middle value

3. By selecting the most frequently occurring number

4. By finding the highest value in the data set

The correct answer is: By arranging the numbers in order and identifying the middle value

To find the median of a data set, the process involves first arranging the numbers in ascending order. Once the numbers are sorted, the median is identified as the middle value. If there is an odd number of values in the data set, the median is the number that is exactly in the middle. If there is an even number of values, the median is calculated by taking the average of the two middle numbers. This method specifically targets the central tendency of the data set, providing a measure that is resistant to extreme values (outliers) that can significantly affect the mean. By focusing on the middle position, the median offers a clear indication of the data's central location, which is particularly useful in descriptive statistics. In contrast, averaging all numbers relates to calculating the mean, while selecting the most frequently occurring number corresponds to finding the mode. Identifying the highest value does not pertain to any measure of central tendency and is irrelevant in determining the median.