Median Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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median
[ˈmiːdiən ]
Definitions
Context #1 | Noun
statistics
The value or quantity lying at the midpoint of a frequency distribution, or of a set of values.
Examples of usage
- The median is often used as a measure of central tendency in statistics.
- When the data set is ordered, the median is the middle value.
- In a set of 7 numbers, the median is the 4th number if arranged in ascending order.
Context #2 | Noun
geometry
A straight line drawn from any vertex of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side.
Examples of usage
- The median of a triangle divides it into two equal areas.
- Each triangle has three medians, which intersect at the centroid.
Context #3 | Noun
astronomy
The middle value in a series arranged in order of magnitude.
Examples of usage
- The median magnitude of the stars in the constellation was calculated.
- In astronomy, the median is often used to compare the brightness of celestial objects.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Mathematics
- In a set of numbers, if there is an even count, the median is found by averaging the two middle numbers.
- The median is often a better measure of central tendency than the average in skewed distributions, as it's less affected by extreme values.
Statistics
- Statisticians use the median to analyze income data, as it reflects the point where half earn more and half earn less.
- The median can be used in data sets with outliers since it offers a more accurate representation of the dataset's center.
Pop Culture
- In television and film ratings, the median can help assess the typical viewer's experience rather than the extremes.
- Contests and competitions sometimes refer to median scores to determine a more representative winner.
Real-world Applications
- Urban planners may use the median home price to get a clearer picture of housing affordability in a city.
- In health reports, the median can be key in understanding average lifestyle habits within a population.
Origin of 'median'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'median' comes from the Latin word 'medius', meaning 'middle'.
- It was first used in English in the 19th century to describe the central value in statistics.
The word 'median' originated from the Latin word 'mediānus', which means 'middle'. It has been used in various fields such as statistics, geometry, and astronomy to refer to a central value or line. The concept of the median has been important in mathematics and data analysis for centuries, helping to understand the central tendency of a set of values.