In statistics, a median is a number that separates the higher half of a data sample from the lower half. For example: to calculate the median in the data sample: 10, 3, 5, 7, 9, 14, 103, you need to sort the data sample in order from smallest to largest: 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 103. The number in the middle is 9, so the median is 9. When there are 2 middle numbers, you can average the two numbers to have the median.
In Excel, you can use the MEDIAN function to find the number in the middle of a set of numbers.
Formula:
= MEDIAN(number1, [number2], …)
Explanations:
– Number 1 is required;
– [number2] … numbers other than the first are optional.
Cautions:
– When the number of numbers is odd, the median equals the number in the middle. When the number of numbers is even, the median equals the average of the two numbers in the middle.
– Blank cells or cells with text are ignored in the calculation.
Example 1: What is the median income in Column C?
=MEDIAN(C2:C9) The median income is $71,663.
There are 8 values in this example, the average of the two values in the middle are $70,256 and $73,069 , and the average of the two values is $71,663 .
Example 2: What is the median income (one cell is blank)?
=MEDIAN(D2:D9) The median income is $70,256 .
There are 8 values in this example with one blank. The blank cell is ignored so there are only 7 values in the calculation. The number in the middle is $70,256.