What is the median of the heights in the dataset: 74, 82, 78, 72, 73, 78, 72, 78, 81?

• A. 72
• B. 80
• C. 78
• D. 74

Answer: (C)

The median is the middle value of a sorted dataset. With nine heights, the central position is the fifth value. Sorting the data gives: 72, 72, 73, 74, 78, 78, 78, 81, 82. The fifth value is 78, so the median is 78. (If there were an even number of observations, you’d average the two middle values.)