Question

practice using the mean and median to describe and compare data sets. which statements are true about the median? check all that apply. put the values in numerical order before trying to find the median. median is a number that is much lower or much higher than the rest of the numbers. the median is always greatly impacted by outliers. the median is the number in the middle of an ordered set of values. the median must be calculated by finding the mean of the two middle points when there is an even number of data points.

Explanation:

1. To find the median, we first arrange the data in numerical order. So the statement "Put the values in numerical order before trying to find the median" is true.
2. A number much lower or higher than the rest is an outlier, not the median. So the statement "Median is a number that is much lower or much higher than the rest of the numbers" is false.
3. The median is not greatly impacted by outliers as it depends on the middle value(s). The mean is more affected by outliers. So the statement "The median is always greatly impacted by outliers" is false.
4. By definition, the median is the middle number in an ordered set of values (for odd number of data points) or the mean of the two middle numbers (for even number of data points). So "The median is the number in the middle of an ordered set of values" is true (for odd - numbered data sets, and the concept extends to even - numbered sets as the mean of two middle points).
5. When there is an even number of data points, we calculate the median by finding the mean of the two middle points. So the statement "The median must be calculated by finding the mean of the two middle points when there is an even number of data points" is true.

Answer:

• Put the values in numerical order before trying to find the median.
• The median is the number in the middle of an ordered set of values.
• The median must be calculated by finding the mean of the two middle points when there is an even number of data points.