CompTIA Data+ (DA0-002)Data AnalysisMedium
A data analyst is presented with a dataset of customer transaction values. The values are: $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, $50, $55, $60, $65, $70. What is the median of this dataset?
- A$50.00
- B$47.50
- C$40.00
- D$45.00
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. $47.50
The dataset has 10 values, an even number. To find the median, take the average of the two middle values. The ordered dataset is $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, $50, $55, $60, $65, $70. The two middle values are $45 (5th position) and $50 (6th position). The median is ($45 + $50) / 2 = $47.50.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is the 6th value, not the average of the middle two values.
- C. This is the 4th value, not one of the middle two values.
- D. This would be the median if there were an odd number of data points and $45 was the single middle value.
Median
The middle value in a dataset that is ordered from least to greatest.
- Robust to outliers and skewed distributions.
- For an odd number of values, it's the single middle value.
- For an even number of values, it's the average of the two middle values.
Memory trick: MEDIAN: The middle path, ordered first!