Excel MEDIAN Function
Nestled within Excel’s arsenal of functions, the MEDIAN function stands out as a reliable tool for determining the midpoint of a dataset, offering a clear snapshot of where the central tendency lies. In contrast to traditional manual calculations that necessitate sorting data, the MEDIAN function automates this process, freeing users from the burden of arranging data points in ascending order.
Understanding the Role of the Median in Data Analysis:
The median, a central measure of tendency, serves as a robust indicator of the midpoint within a dataset, unaffected by extreme values or outliers. By leveraging the MEDIAN function, users can swiftly calculate this pivotal value without the hassle of manual sorting, enabling a more efficient and accurate analysis of their data.
MEDIAN Function
The MEDIAN function is a premade function in Excel, which returns the middle value in the data.
It is typed =MEDIAN
Note: The median is a type of average value, which describes where the center of the data is located. You can learn about median in our Statistics Median Tutorial.
Calculating the median manually requires that the data is sorted and arranged from low to high. This is not necessary using the MEDIAN function, it does it for you.
How to use the =MEDIAN function, step by step:
- Select a cell (
H2) - Type
=MEDIAN - Double click the MEDIAN command
- Select a range (
A2:G2) - Hit enter
Great! You successfully found the median using the =MEDIAN function.
Note that it found the value in the middle of the data, which is D2(2), the one that is marked red: