What is the median and how can I find it in a data set?

The median is the middle number in a data set when the numbers are arranged in ascending order. If there is an even number of data points, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. To find the median, line up your numbers from least to greatest and then locate the middle number.

For example, in the set {3, 6, 9, 12, 15}, the median is 9. If the set is {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18}, the median would be (9 + 12) / 2 = 10.5.

Understanding the median is crucial in statistics and is often used in calculating central tendencies.