The median is essentially the middle number of a dataset. To find the median, the data must be organized in sequence, often from smallest to largest. For frequency tables, like the one in our exercise, there is a slightly different approach.
Start by understanding the cumulative frequency:
- Create a cumulative frequency table by adding up the frequencies successively. This will help to identify where the center of the dataset is.
- Find the middle position: Use the formula \( \frac{N + 1}{2} \), where \( N \) is the total number of observations. In our scenario, the calculation \( \frac{53}{2} \) equals 26.5. This means the median lies between the 26th and 27th positions.
- Locate the median: Using the cumulative frequencies, you'll find the median in the data category that includes this middle value.
In our vehicle count dataset, the median is the 2 vehicles category, as the middle position lies within its cumulative frequency.