Simple Statistics Calculating the Median When You Have 3 Numbers and 2 are the Same

[Mrs SHO]

Hi,
I can't seem to figure out how I might calculate the median or middle number in a data set of 3 when two of the numbers are of equal value. For example, how do you find the median of the following data set: 50, 60, 60?
Thanks in advance for considering my inquiry!

 

[JeffM]

Hi Mrs. SHO. Welcome to freemathhelp.

EXACTLY how does your text define the median?

It probably says something like take the middle value of the sorted data items if the number of items is odd and take the arithmetic mean of the two middle values if the number of sorted data items if the number of items is even. But it will be helpful to know exactly what definition you are supposed to use.

 

[HallsofIvy]

If you have a, a, b, then I would say the median is a. If you have a, b, b, then I would say the median is b. In either case, it is one if the two identical values. (And, of course, it doesn't matter which.)

 

[Asterix]

The median is the number in the middle after arranging your data in order either ascending or descending. So in your case 50, 60, 60 The number in the middle is 60 so Median = 60. The median might not be the best average of such data you might go for the mean here, and maybe that's what bothers you but as far as median is concerned this is how it is calculated