How it works
The median is the middle number. The mean is the fair share.
To find the mean, add all the values and divide by how many there are.
To find the median, order the values and take the middle one, or halfway between the two middle ones.
Worked examples
The mean
- Books read: 7, 6, 3, 7, 7.
- Add: 7 + 6 + 3 + 7 + 7 = 30, and 30 ÷ 5 = 6.
- The mean is 6 books.
The median, even count
- Stickers: 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7.
- The middle two are 6 and 7, so halfway is 6.5.
- The median is 6.5.
A longer list
- Order 12 values and find the 6th and 7th.
- Take the number halfway between them.
- That is the median.
A taste of the worksheet
These are the first problems of set A. The printable sheet has many more, with an answer key.
- Each dot is one kid. What is the median number of stickers? Answer: ___
- Five kids counted their stickers. The numbers are not in order. What is the median? Put them in order first. Answer: ___
- There are two middle numbers here. The median is halfway between them. What is the median? Answer: ___