How do I calculate median
I'm using Numbers ('09 version 2.3) and want to calculate the median of a list of numbers that are not in any special order. How do I do it?
The following has instructions: iWork '09: MEDIAN
7 replies
Fox, I tried using that formula but all I get is an orange triangle instead of a number. Here's what I did: =MEDIAN(B2:B521)
What am I doing wrong?
Unfortunately, I think that maybe what you did wrong was to use Numbers. From what I see it only supports the Median function followed by a list of cells rather than a range of cells -- I am basing that on the link I provided above and the fact that it doesn't mention using a range while the similar web page for SUM does: iWork '09: SUM
I did test the function before I replied originally but I used a list of cells and not a range.
Warning -- I'm not an expert on Numbers and there may be an obvious solution that I'm missing (gave up on it and switched to Open Office even though my needs are pretty basic).
You may be right, Fox, although it seems odd that you can SUM a range of numbers and not MEDIAN a range. I think the answer lies in the orange triangle – now if only it explained what was wrong instead of just indicating it with a stupid icon.
Anyway, thanks for trying.
I think the answer lies in the orange triangle – now if only it explained what was wrong instead of just indicating it with a stupid icon.
What explanatory message do you get when you click on the orange triangle? It may give you a clue to what is going wrong.
MEDIAN works fine here (with row 1 defined as a Header Row, and row 7 as a Footer Row):
SG
Thanks for the reply, SGIII. I think I've figured out the problem. I ported the data to Excel and got the MEDIAN I was looking for – it also came with Microsoft's version of an orange triangle. It was due to some cells in the column being empty. Case closed.
Case closed.
You've got a button to mark the thread as solved, either referencing your post or another post, so others don't need to click in here thinking a solution is still needed. Only you as the OP can do that.
SG
How do I calculate median