Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question

Answer: 3.5 or 7/2

First put the values in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5. With six values there are two middle ones — the third and fourth, 3 and 4 — and the median is their average: (3 + 4)/2 = 3.5.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3

3 is the lower of the two middle values. With an even number of values the median is the AVERAGE of the two in the middle: (3 + 4)/2 = 3.5.

If you answered 4

4 is the upper of the two middle values. Average it with the lower one, 3, to get the median 3.5.

If you answered 5

5 is the mode — the value that appears most often. The median is the middle of the ordered list.

If you answered 3.33

3.33 is the mean, 20/6. The median is found by ordering the values and taking the middle.

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