SuperMathTutorStatistics guide
Mean vs. Median: Which Average Should You Use?
The mean and median both describe the center of a data set, but they react differently to extreme values.
Mean
Add every value and divide by the number of values. Extreme values can pull it strongly.
Median
Sort the values and find the middle. The median is often more resistant to outliers.
Data: 30, 32, 35, 37, 200
Mean = 66.8
Median = 35
The 200 pulls the mean far above most observations.
Mean = 66.8
Median = 35
The 200 pulls the mean far above most observations.