1. What Is Q2 (Median)?

The Q2 (second quartile), also known as the median, is the middle value in a sorted dataset. It divides the data into two equal halves - 50% of values are below it and 50% are above it.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard median calculation:

Steps:

1. Sort the data points in ascending order
2. Count the number of data points (n)
3. If n is odd: Q2 = middle value
4. If n is even: Q2 = average of two middle values

3. Importance of Median Calculation

Details: The median is a robust measure of central tendency that is less affected by outliers than the mean. It's widely used in statistics, economics, and data analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter numerical values separated by commas. The calculator will sort the values and find the median. Example: "5, 3, 8, 1, 2".

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between Q2 and mean?
A: Q2 (median) is the middle value, while mean is the average. Median is less affected by extreme values.

Q2: When should I use median instead of mean?
A: Use median when your data has outliers or is skewed. Use mean for normally distributed data.

Q3: Can I calculate median for categorical data?
A: No, median requires ordinal or numerical data that can be ordered.

Q4: How does median relate to Q1 and Q3?
A: Q1 is the median of the lower half, Q3 of the upper half. Together they form the interquartile range.

Q5: What if my data has even number of points?
A: The median is calculated as the average of the two middle numbers in the sorted list.