In a dataset, if the values are {11, 13, 15, 15, 19}, what is the median?

In a dataset, if the values are {11, 13, 15, 15, 19}, what is the median?

• A. 11
• B. 13
• C. 15
• D. 19

Answer: (C)

To find the median of a dataset, you first need to arrange the numbers in order, which is already done in this case: {11, 13, 15, 15, 19}. The median is the value that separates the higher half from the lower half of the dataset. In this dataset, there are five values, which is an odd number. To locate the median, we use the formula for finding the median in an ordered set: the median is positioned at (n + 1) / 2, where n is the number of observations. Here, n is 5, so (5 + 1) / 2 equals 3. This means the median is the value in the 3rd position of the ordered set. Counting through the dataset: 1st position is 11, 2nd position is 13, 3rd position is 15. Thus, the median of this dataset is 15, as it is the middle value when the numbers are sorted. The median effectively reflects the central tendency of the dataset, especially in cases where there may be outliers that distort the mean.

To find the median of a dataset, you first need to arrange the numbers in order, which is already done in this case: {11, 13, 15, 15, 19}. The median is the value that separates the higher half from the lower half of the dataset.

In this dataset, there are five values, which is an odd number. To locate the median, we use the formula for finding the median in an ordered set: the median is positioned at (n + 1) / 2, where n is the number of observations. Here, n is 5, so (5 + 1) / 2 equals 3.

This means the median is the value in the 3rd position of the ordered set. Counting through the dataset:

1st position is 11,

2nd position is 13,

3rd position is 15.

Thus, the median of this dataset is 15, as it is the middle value when the numbers are sorted. The median effectively reflects the central tendency of the dataset, especially in cases where there may be outliers that distort the mean.