SME
Grade 6 Math · Problem type
Median, range and mode
Use this for “What is the median of these 7 numbers?” and the range; the mode is in the note.
Diagram
6 values in order: 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12.
The median is halfway between 7 and 8: (7 + 8) ÷ 2 = 7.5.
This is an example. Type your own values to start a new problem.
Number of values
example
First value
example
Second value
example
Third value
example
Fourth value
example
Fifth value
example
Sixth value
example
Median
worked out (not typed)
Range
worked out (not typed)
Formulas
median of the 6 values: 7.5
The middle of the values in order = median
range of the 6 values: 9
Greatest value − least value = range
Assumptions
•
Put the values in order first.
•
An odd number of values: the median is the middle one. An even number: halfway between the middle two.
•
The range is the greatest minus the least; the mode is the value that appears most often.
•
From 3 to 12 values.
Step-by-step
WE KNOW
Number of values: 6
First value: 8
Second value: 3
Third value: 12
Fourth value: 7
Fifth value: 5
Sixth value: 9
FIND
median, range
Step 1 · Find median
median of the 6 values: ?
The middle of the values in order = median
Put the values in order. Find the number halfway between the middle two.
In order: 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12
The middle two are 7 and 8.
(7 + 8) ÷ 2 = 7.5
Median = 7.5 (no mode: every value appears once)
Step 2 · Find range
range of the 6 values: ?
Greatest value − least value = range
Take the least value from the greatest.
12 − 3 = 9
Range = 9
Check
Put the numbers back in. Both sides should match.
median of 8, 3, 12, 7, 5, 9: 7.5 ✓
12 − 3 = 9 ✓
Topic check
See what you know: 5 questions on this topic
New questions each time. Pass to mark it complete.
Refresh
Related lessons
Statistical measures and displays
Main lesson
Mean absolute deviation
Use this for “Find the mean absolute deviation of the data.”
Box plots
Use this for “What is the interquartile range?” from a box plot.
Statistical questions
Use this for “Is this a statistical question?”
Choose the mean or the median
Use this for “Which better describes the center: the mean or the median?”
Histograms
Use this for “How many values are in each interval?” on a histogram.
Shapes of distributions
Use this for “Describe the shape of the distribution: symmetric, skewed, or with an outlier.”