When looking at a set of numbers in a data point, the median is the middle number. You find it by organizing the numbers from least to greatest and (if you’re a more visual learner) begin to cross off number from each end until you get to the center number (this will be your median).
Side note: you can tell right away if your data set will have a middle number or if you’ll have to do some math based of whether or not there are an even or odd amount.
Odd - will have easily found median
Even - won’t have easily found median
Ex. Odd 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 —-> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ex. Even 1, 2, 3, 4 —-> 1, 2, 3, 4
In the second, even example, add the two middle numbers (2+3=5) and then divide by 2 (5/2=2.5)
Basically,
1. Arrange the numbers in order by size
2. If there’s an odd number of terms, the median is the center term
3. If there is an even number of terms, add the two middle terms and divide by two
