The median is a statistical measure that represents the middle value of a sorted data set. To find the median, you first need to arrange the data points in either ascending or descending order. If the number of observations (n) is odd, the median is simply the value at the middle position, which can be calculated as (n + 1) / 2. If n is even, the median is the average of the two middle values, which are located at positions n/2 and (n/2) + 1 ¹.

One of the key advantages of the median is its robustness to outliers. Unlike the mean, which can be significantly affected by extreme values, the median provides a more reliable measure of central tendency, especially in skewed distributions ⁴. This property makes it widely used in various fields, including economics, social sciences, and medicine.

In summary, the median is a valuable statistical tool for understanding the central tendency of a data set, particularly when dealing with skewed data or outliers.