Difference Between Mean and Median
The key differences between mean and median are listed in the following table:
| Aspect | Mean | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The sum of all values divided by the count | The middle value of a sorted dataset |
| Calculation | Mean = Sum of all values/Count | Median is the middle value when the data is arranged in ascending or descending order |
| Sensitivity to Outliers | Can be highly influenced by extreme values in the dataset | Less sensitive to extreme values, outliers have minimal impact |
| Use Cases | Commonly used in statistical analysis and mathematics | Useful when extreme values skew the data or when the distribution is not symmetric |
Let’s see the following example to understand the difference.
Difference between Mean and Median is understood by the following example. In a school, there are 8 teachers whose salaries are 20000 rupees, a principal with a salary of 35000, find their mean salary and median salary.
Mean = (20000+20000+20000+20000+20000+20000+20000+20000+35000)/9 = 195000/9 = 21666.67
Therefore, the mean salary is ₹21,666.67.
For median, in ascending order: 20000, 20000, 20000, 20000, 20000, 20000, 20000, 20000, 35000.
n = 9,
Thus, (9 + 1)/2 = 5
Thus, the median is 5th observation.
Median = 20000
Therefore, the median is ₹20,000.
Note: Mean gets easily affected by extreme values.
Mean, Median and Mode
Mean, Median, and Mode are measures of the central tendency. These values are used to define the various parameters of the given data set. The measure of central tendency (Mean, Median, and Mode) gives useful insights about the data studied, these are used to study any type of data such as the average salary of employees in an organization, the median age of any class, the number of people who plays cricket in a sports club, etc.
Let’s learn more about the Mean, Median, and Mode Formulas, Examples, and FAQs in this article.
Table of Content
- Measures of Central Tendency
- What are Mean, Median, and Mode?
- What is Mean?
- What is Median?
- What is Mode?
- Symbol of Mode
- Relation between Mean Median Mode
- What is Range?
- Differences between Mean, Median and Mode
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