Question

The medians for the first 7 natural numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and the first 6 natural numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) respectively are _____ .

• A. 3, 3.5
• B. 4, 3.5
• C. 4, 3
• D. 4, 4

Answer 1

The correct option is B 4, 3.5

For both the sets of numbers, the numbers are in ascending order. If number of observations (n) is odd, the median is is ${\frac{(n+1)}{2}}^{th}$ term. If number of numbers n is even, the median will be average of ($\frac{n}{2}$)${}^{th}$ and ($\frac{n}{2}+1$)${}^{th}$ term.

In the first set of numbers, the number of terms is 7. Using above formula, the median term is $4^{th}$ term which 4. In $2^{nd}$ set of numbers the median is average of $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ terms. These are 3 and 4. The average of 3 and 4 is 3.5.

For $1^{st}$, set median = 4

For $2^{nd}$, set median = 3.5