Median of 2.5, 1.5, 4, 3

Step by step

The question

Question: find the median of 2.5, 1.5, 4 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: 1.5, 2.5, 3 and 4.

We still have 4 numbers.

None is lost.

2 Find the middle

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

Two numbers are left in the middle: 2.5 and 3.

The median is halfway between them.

Halfway: we add them and divide by 2.

2.5 plus 3 is 5.5.

5.5 divided by 2 is 2.75.

So the median is 2.75.

Let's look back.

First: put them in order.

Last: find the middle.