ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7MathematicsEasy
A research study tracked the number of hours patients spent in physical therapy each week. The recorded hours for 7 patients were: 3, 5, 4, 6, 3, 7, 5. What is the median number of hours spent in physical therapy?
- A3 hours
- B6 hours
- C4 hours
- D5 hours
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 5 hours
To find the median, first arrange the data in ascending order: 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7. Since there are 7 data points (an odd number), the median is the middle value. The middle value is the 4th data point, which is 5.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is one of the lowest values, not the median.
- B. Incorrect; this is a higher value, not the median.
- C. Incorrect; this is the third value in the ordered set, not the middle.
Median Calculation
The middle value in a data set when the values are arranged in ascending or descending order.
- First step is always to sort the data.
- For an odd number of data points, it's the exact middle value.
- For an even number, it's the average of the two middle values.
Memory trick: Median's in the Middle, after you Sort!