The MEDIAN function in Excel is used to find the middle value in a set of numbers. It’s a helpful tool when you want to identify the middle number in a list, which can be especially useful for finding the median of test scores, ages, or other numerical data.
Syntax
MEDIAN(number1, [number2], …)
Arguments
| number1 | The first number or range of numbers for which you want to calculate the median. |
| [number2] | (Optional) Additional numbers or ranges to include in the median calculation. You can add up to 254 values in total. |
How to use
To use the MEDIAN function, follow these steps:
1. Select the cell where you want the median result to appear.
2. Enter the MEDIAN function:
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=MEDIAN(number1, [number2], ...) |
3. Inside the parentheses, provide the numbers or ranges you want to calculate the median for. For example:
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=MEDIAN(A1:A5) |
will find the median for the numbers in cells A1 through A5.
4. Press Enter, and the cell will display the median value.
Examples
Here are some examples of how to use the MEDIAN function:
Example 1: Finding the Median of Test Scores
Suppose you have a list of test scores in cells A1 to A10, and you want to find the median score. Enter the following formula in an empty cell:
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=MEDIAN(A1:A10) |
This will calculate the median score from the given range of scores.
Example 2: Calculating the Median of Three Numbers
If you have three specific numbers and want to find the median, use the formula like this:
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=MEDIAN(25, 18, 32) |
This will give you the median value of 25, 18, and 32, which is 25.
Example 3: Including Optional Arguments
The MEDIAN function allows you to include multiple numbers or ranges. For instance, to calculate the median of two separate sets of numbers, use:
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=MEDIAN(A1:A5, B1:B5) |
This will find the median across both ranges A1:A5 and B1:B5.
Additional Information
The MEDIAN function is particularly useful when you need to find a central value within a list of numbers. It’s important to note that this function only works with numerical data and ignores empty cells and text entries.
If there’s an even number of values, MEDIAN will calculate the average of the two middle values. In case you encounter unfamiliar terms, you can refer to Excel’s documentation or external resources for further clarification.
