Different Perspectives on the Median of a Distribution

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Using three small datasets, we explore four different perspectives of the median. Within each perspective, use the slider to choose the parameter that gives the desired version of the median.

Contributed by: Alexander White and Lawrence M. Lesser (July 2016)
Open content licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


Snapshots


Details

The standard convention for computing the median for a dataset is the following sequence:

1. Sort the data.

2a. If the size of the set is odd, choose the middle value.

2b. If the size of the set is even, average the middle pair of values.

The step 2b insures that we have a unique value for each dataset. However, if we think of the median as the number fulfilling a particular goal, such as “split the data in half,” the number may not be unique. For each perspective in this Demonstration, the choice of the median achieves a particular goal.

Snapshot 1. Splitting: Circles on the number line represent data values. We wish to split the data into two equally sized sets. Slide so that the number of data points above the median and the number below the median are equal. Is this possible in dataset 2? Why or why not? How can you modify the criteria to work for all datasets?

Snapshot 2: Data Reduction. Find the value closest to the data. The upper graph shows the sum of the absolute deviations from In the lower graph, circles on the number line represent data values. Each red line represents the distance from an observation to . The thickness of the line is proportional to the number of data points at that distance. Choose to minimize the sum of absolute deviations. Note this is equivalent to minimizing the mean absolute deviation. Is there a unique minimizer for dataset 3? Why or why not?

Snapshot 3: Balance Point. The circles represent data values on a number line that has been tied into a loop and placed on a pulley Lynch(2009). The diameter (weight) of the circle is proportional to the number of data points at that value. If the loop is rotated and released, the loop will adjust until a median is at the lowest point of the loop. Slide to a value, click the Play trigger and see the loop move into equilibrium. Reset (with the third button) and try again with another value of . What happens when is far from the median? For dataset 3, what happens when is between the two middle ordered values?

Reference

Mark Lynch, “Teaching Tip: The Median is a Balance Point,” The College Mathematics Journal, 40(4), 2009 p. 292.



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