MEDIAN formula in Excel - practical examples

This tutorial explains how to calculate the median of numerical data in Excel using the MEDIAN function. The median, a key measure of central tendency, identifies the middle value in a dataset, offering a more robust representation of central tendency than the mean, especially when dealing with outliers.

• Understanding the Median: The median is the central value when data is ordered numerically. For odd-numbered datasets, it's the middle value; for even-numbered datasets, it's the average of the two middle values. Unlike the mean, the median is less affected by extreme values.

• The Excel MEDIAN Function: Excel's MEDIAN function calculates the median. Its syntax is MEDIAN(number1, [number2], ...) where the arguments can be numbers, cell references, or ranges. Excel 2007 and later versions support up to 255 arguments.

Key Features of Excel's MEDIAN Function:

• Handles odd and even datasets correctly.
• Includes zeros in calculations.
• Ignores empty cells, text, and logical values (except TRUE/FALSE entered directly into the formula).

Calculating the Median in Excel:

• Basic MEDIAN Formula: To find the median of values in cells C2:C8, use =MEDIAN(C2:C8).

• MEDIAN with IF (Single Condition): To calculate the median based on a condition, use an array formula. For example, to find the median amount for a specific item (item name in cell E2), use: =MEDIAN(IF($A$2:$A$10=$E2, $C$2:$C$10)). Remember to press Ctrl Shift Enter to enter this as an array formula. (In dynamic array Excel versions, this behaves like a regular formula.)

• MEDIAN with Nested IFs (Multiple Conditions): For multiple criteria (e.g., item name in F2 and status in G2), nest IF functions: =MEDIAN(IF($A$2:$A$10=$F2, IF($D$2:$D$10=$G2,$C$2:$C$10))). This also requires Ctrl Shift Enter for array formula entry.

This tutorial demonstrates how to efficiently calculate medians in Excel, handling both simple and conditional scenarios. A sample workbook is available for further practice.

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