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Median is a type of average. You are confusing "average" with "mean". To be fair, it's not clear which form of average is used in the article and your assumpti
by screaminghawk 9y ago
Median is a type of average. You are confusing "average" with "mean".
To be fair, it's not clear which form of average is used in the article and your assumption that it is the mean is likely correct.
- blueline 9y agoI have never seen median referred to as a "type of average" in any context. Is there any foundation to this?
- niteshade 9y agoQuite literally the first result in Google: http://www.dummies.com/education/math/pre-algebra/the-three-types-of-average-median-mode-and-mean/ http://www.dummies.com/education/math/pre-algebra/the-three-...
- e12e 9y agoAlso, from webster's: "av·er·age\ˈa-v(ə-)rij\ noun : a number that is calculated by adding quantities together and then dividing the total by the number of quantities : a level that is typical of a group, class, or series : a middle point between extremes Full Definition 1 a : a single value (as a mean, mode, or median) that summarizes or represents the general significance of a set of unequal values b : mean 1b 2 a : an estimation of or approximation to an arithmetic mean (...)" It's common to see arithmetic mean and average to be treated as synonyms - but the mean is really just a type of average.
- claytonjy 9y agoYou might like this blog post from John Myles White: http://www.johnmyleswhite.com/notebook/2013/03/22/modes-medians-and-means-an-unifying-perspective/ http://www.johnmyleswhite.com/notebook/2013/03/22/modes-medi... It compares mode, median, and mean as each being specific implementations of a more general concept of discrepancy.
- phamilton 9y agoColloquially, median and mode are used as average more than you'd expect. For example, we might say "the average joe is right handed", which is most likely the mode.