Properties Of Median In Statistics

The value which occupies the centre position amongst the observations when
arranged in ascending or descending order is the median. Fifty per cent scores
are above or below the median. Hence, it is named as 50th percentile or positional
average. The location of the median is dependent on whether the data set consists
of an even or odd number of values. The method of finding the median is
different for even and an odd number of observations.

Median Properties
In statistics, the properties of the median are explained in the following points.

 Median is not dependent on all the data values in a dataset.

 The median value is fixed by its position and is not reflected by the individual value.
 The distance between the median and the rest of the values is less than the distance from
any other point.
 Every array has a single median.
 Median cannot be manipulated algebraically. It cannot be weighed and combined.
 In a grouping procedure, the median is stable.
 Median is not applicable to qualitative data.
 The values must be grouped and ordered for computation.
 Median can be determined for ratio, interval and ordinal scale.
 Outliers and skewed data have less impact on the median.
 If the distribution is skewed, the median is a better measure when compared to mean.

Formula to Find Median for Discrete Series

Calculating the median for individual series is as follows:

 The data is arranged in ascending or descending order.

 If it is an odd-sized sample, median = value of ([n + 1] / 2) th item.
 If it is an even-sized sample, median = ½ [ value of (n / 2) th item + value of ([n / 2] +
1)th item]
Calculating the median for discrete series is as follows:

 Arrange the data in ascending or descending order.

 The cumulative frequencies need to be computed.
 Median = (n / 2)th term, n refers to cumulative frequency.
The formula for finding the median for a continuous distribution is:

Where l = lower limit of the median class

f = frequency of the median class
N = the sum of all frequencies
i = the width of the median class
C = the cumulative frequency of the class preceding the median class
Solved Examples on Median
Example 1: If a variable takes the discrete values α − 4, α − 7 / 2, α − 5 / 2, α − 3,
α − 2, α + 1 / 2, α − 1 / 2, α + 5 ( α > 0), then the median is
Solution:
Arrange the data as α − 7 / 2, α − 3, α − 5 / 2, α − 2 , α − 1 / 2, α + 1 / 2, α − 4, α +
5
Median = 1 / 2 [value of 4th item + value of 5th item ]
Median = (α − 2 + [α − 1 / 2]) / [2]
= [2α − 5 / 2] / 2
=α−5/4
Example 2: The median of a set of 9 distinct observations is 20.5. If each of the
largest fourth observation of the set is increased by 2, then the median of the new
set is ________.
Solution:
Since n = 9, then median term = ([9 + 1] / [2])th = 5th term.
Now, the last four observations are increased by 2.
∵ The median is the 5th observation, which remains unchanged.
There will be no change in the median.
Example 3: The median of 10, 14, 11, 9, 8, 12, 6 is _________.
Solution:
Arrange the items in ascending order, i.e. , 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14.
If n is odd then, Median = value of ([n + 1] / 2)th term
Median = ([7 + 1] / 2)th term
= 4th term
= 10
Example 4: For a symmetrical distribution Q1 = 25 and Q3 = 45, the median is
_______.
Solution:
As the distribution is symmetrical, therefore,
Q2(Median) = [Q1 + Q3] / 2
= [25 + 45] / 2
= 35
Example 5: For (2n + 1) observations x1, − x1, x2,− x2,….. xn, − xn and 0 where x’s
are all distinct. Let S.D. and M.D. denote the standard deviation and median,
respectively. Then, what is the relation between standard and median?
Solution:
On arranging the given observations in ascending order,
The median of the given observations = (n + 1)th term = 0
S. D. > M .D.
Example 6: Karl-Pearsons coefficient of skewness of a distribution is 0.32. Its
S.D. is 6.5 and mean is 39.6. Then the median of the distribution is given by
_____________.
Solution:
We know that Sk = [M − Mo] / σ, where M = Mean, Mo = Mode, s = S.D.
i.e., 0.32 = [39.6 − Mo] / 6.5
Mo = 37.52 and also know that, Mo = 3 median – 2 mean
37.52 = 3 (Median) – 2 (39.6)
Median = 38.81
Example 7: The following data gives the distribution of the height of students

Height (in cm) 160 150 152 161 156 154 155

Number of
12 8 4 4 3 3 7
students
The median of the distribution is
A) 154
B) 155
C) 160
D) 161
Solution:
Arranging the data in ascending order of magnitude, we obtain

Height (in cm) 150 152 154 155 156 160 161

Number of students 8 4 3 7 3 12 4

Cumulative
8 12 15 22 25 37 41
frequency
Here, the total number of items is 41 i.e., an odd number. Hence, the median is
[41 + 1] / 2 th i.e., 21st item. From the cumulative frequency table, we find that
median i.e., 21st item is 155, (All items from 16 to 22nd are equal, each 155).
Example 8: In a moderately asymmetrical distribution the mode and mean are 7
and 4 respectively. The median is
A) 4     
B) 5
C) 6     
D) 7
Solution:
For a moderately Skewed distribution,                    
Mode = 3 median –  2 mean            
7  = 3 median – [2 × 4] 
15 = 3 median                    
Median = 5. 
Example 9: If in a frequency distribution, the mean and median are 21 and 22
respectively, then its mode is approximately
A) 25.5
B) 24.0
C) 22.0
D) 20.5
Solution:
We know that,                    
Mode = 3 Median – 2 Mean 
= 3(22) – 2(21)                      
= 66 – 42 
= 24. 
Example 10: Following are the marks obtained by 9 students in a mathematics
test: 50, 69, 20, 33, 39, 40, 65, 59 the mean deviation from the median is
A) 9
B) 10.5
C) 12.67
D) 14.76
Solution: 
Marks obtained by 9 students in Mathematics are: 50, 69, 20, 33, 53, 39, 40, 65,
59 Let us rewrite the given data in ascending order. 20, 33, 39, 40, 50, 53, 59, 65,
69.
Here, n = 9
Median = 5th term = 50

xi di=|xi−Me|

20 30

33 17

39 11

40 10

50 0

53 3

59 9

65 15

69 19

N = 2 Σd1 = 114
M.D.= 114 / 9 = 12.67
Example 11: If the mean deviation about the median of the numbers a, 2a, ……..
50a is 50, then find the value of |a|.
Solution:
Median = 25.5a
\(\begin{array}{l}\sum |x_{i}-M|=[24.5a+23.5a+ …….. +0.5a+0.5a+
…….. +24.5a]\\ =2a[0.5+1.5+ ……. + 24.5]\\ \sum |x_{i}-M|=25 \
times 25a\\ 50=\frac{25 \times 25a}{50}\\ \Rightarrow a=4\
end{array} \)
Example 12: Find the median of 11, 15, 13, 27, 19, 24 and 20. If 13 is replaced by
31 then find the new median.
A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40
Solution:
Arranging the given data in ascending order, 11, 15, 13, 27, 19, 24, 20,
The number of observations = 7 (odd)
Median = 19,
When 13 is replaced by 31, the data becomes as follows on arranging in
ascending order. 11, 15, 19, 20, 24, 27, 31
Median = value of 4th observation
Since 4th observation in the new series is 20, the new median is 20.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean by median in statistics?

In statistics, median is the middle value of the given set of data, when arranged
in an ascending or descending order.

How to find the median of a set of observations?

If the number of observations, n is odd, then median = [(n+1)/2]th term.

If n is even, then median = ½[(n/2)th term + {(n/2)+1}th term]th term.

Which are the measures of central tendency?

Mean, mode and median are the measures of central tendency.

Is mode and median the same?

No. The mode is the value which occurs the maximum number of times. The
median is the middle value of the given set of data, when arranged in ascending
or descending order.