Mean and median
See what happens when one high value changes.
The picture in words
- Mean
- Add the values and divide by their count.
- Median
- Find the middle value in the ordered list.
- Changing value
- A higher final value shifts the mean in this example.
Reading the illustration
Compare the ordered values. These are constructed teaching data.
Try a question
Why does the median remain 4 in both lists?
Show the explanation
Each ordered list has seven values and the fourth value is still 4. The larger final value changes the total used to calculate the mean.
Read the sources
- Illowsky, B., & Dean, S. (2023). Introductory statistics 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/introductory-statistics-2e/pages/2-5-measures-of-the-center-of-the-dataSelected rendered explanations and numerical examples on mean and median, reviewed in the topic-selection research.