Median

Middle value of a sorted dataset — the 50 % value.

Also known as: 50th percentile, Q2

The median splits a sorted dataset into two equal halves: 50 % of values fall below, 50 % above. For odd it is the middle value; for even the average of the two middle values.

Unlike the mean, the median is robust against outliers — a single extreme value does not shift it. For strongly skewed distributions (income, waiting times, lifetimes) the median is therefore often the more honest measure of location.

See also

Used in

In the Algorithm Lab

Sources

  • Montgomery, D.C.: Introduction to Statistical Quality Control, 8th ed., Wiley, 2020 — Kap. 3