How do you find the median of a data set?

To find the median of a data set, the proper method is to first arrange all the values in ascending order. After sorting, the median is identified as the middle value. If there is an odd number of values, the median is the value that is exactly in the middle of the ordered list. In the case of an even number of values, the median is determined by taking the average of the two middle values. This process ensures that the median accurately reflects the central tendency of the data set, providing a point that divides the data into two equal halves.

The lowest value in the data set does not aid in finding the median, as it's unrelated to the central location of the values. Calculating the average of all values yields the mean, which is different from the median, as it can be skewed by extreme values. Identifying the mode involves finding the most frequently occurring value in the data set, which again does not reflect the middle point and is distinct from the median. Thus, ordering the values and selecting the middle value is the correct approach for determining the median.