The median and the mean are both measures of central tendency used to describe the average value of a set of data. However, they differ in how they are calculated and what they represent:
Mean: The mean, also known as the average, is calculated by summing up all the values in a dataset and dividing it by the total number of values. It takes into account every data point and is sensitive to extreme values. The mean is affected by outliers, as they can significantly influence its value. It is commonly used in situations where the data is normally distributed or symmetrically distributed.
Median: The median is the middle value in a data set when the values are arranged in ascending or descending order. If there is an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle values. The median is not influenced by extreme values and is considered a robust measure of central tendency. It is commonly used when the data contains outliers or is skewed.
In summary, the mean is the arithmetic average of all values, while the median represents the middle value in a data set. The choice between the two depends on the nature of the data and the presence of outliers.