What percent of values of a data set are less than the median?

1 Answer
Jul 23, 2015

Anywhere between #0%# and just under #50%#

If all the values in a data set of size #2N+1# are distinct, then

#N/(2N+1)*100%#

Explanation:

If the elements of the data set are arranged in ascending order, then the median is the value of the middle element.

For a large data set with distinct values, the percentage of values less than the median will be just under #50%#.

Consider the data set #[ 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 ]#. The median is #0# and #0%# of values are less than the median.