Median of 1, 5, 2, 8, 6, 3

Step by step

The question

Question: find the median of 1, 5, 2, 8, 6 and 3.

The median is the middle number, once the numbers are in order.

1 Put them in order

First we put them in order, smallest first: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8.

We still have 6 numbers.

None is lost.

2 Find the middle

We cross out the smallest and the biggest, one pair at a time.

And the next pair.

Two numbers are left in the middle: 3 and 5.

The median is halfway between them.

Halfway: we add them and divide by 2.

3 plus 5 is 8.

8 divided by 2 is 4.

So the median is 4.

Let's look back.

First: put them in order.

Last: find the middle.