Question

you want to find the median weight of 51 pumpkins. what do you need to do?
choose the correct answer below.
a. find the total weight of all the pumpkins and divide by the number of pumpkins. the definition of median is the sum of all values divided by the total number of values
b. divide the number of pumpkins by the total weight of the pumpkins. the definition of median is the total number of values divided by the sum of all values
c. find the total weight of all the pumpkins and divide by the number of pumpkins. the quotient is called the mode, which is the same thing as the median
d. divide the number of pumpkins by the total weight of the pumpkins. the quotient is the average, which is the same thing as the median
e. lay the pumpkins out in order of increasing weight and find the weight of the pumpkin in the middle. the definition of median is the middle value in a sorted data set

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the definition of median

The median is the middle value in a sorted data set.

Step2: Analyze each option

• Option A: Describes the mean (average), not the median.
• Option B: Incorrect formula and wrong concept related to median.
• Option C: Describes the mean (average) and wrongly equates it to mode (which is also incorrect as mode is the most - frequently occurring value).
• Option D: Incorrect formula and wrong concept (average is mean, not median).
• Option E: Correctly describes the process of finding the median (sort the data and pick the middle value).

Answer:

E. Lay the pumpkins out in order of increasing weight and find the weight of the pumpkin in the middle. The definition of median is the middle value in a sorted data set.