The data set -2, -1, 0, 1, 2: what is the median?

The data set -2, -1, 0, 1, 2: what is the median?

• A. -1
• B. -2
• C. 0
• D. 1

Answer: (C)

The median is the middle value of a sorted list. With five data points, the median is the third value when the numbers are ordered. The set -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 is already in order, so the middle value is 0. Therefore, the median is 0. If the data had an even number of values, you’d average the two middle numbers, but here there’s an odd count, so it’s straightforward.

The median is the middle value of a sorted list. With five data points, the median is the third value when the numbers are ordered. The set -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 is already in order, so the middle value is 0. Therefore, the median is 0. If the data had an even number of values, you’d average the two middle numbers, but here there’s an odd count, so it’s straightforward.