Does the average user understand the median?

1. Can you say the median is the average?
2. Should I use mean or median for average?
3. Is average or median more accurate?
4. Why would you use median over average?

Can you say the median is the average?

The median can be used to determine an approximate average, or mean, but is not to be confused with the actual mean. If there is an odd amount of numbers, the median value is the number that is in the middle, with the same amount of numbers below and above.

Should I use mean or median for average?

“The mean is typically better when the data follow a symmetric distribution. When the data are skewed, the median is more useful because the mean will be distorted by outliers.”

Is average or median more accurate?

While the mean is the average of all the data values, the median is the "average" of just the one or two observations in the very middle of the data. Thus, in situations where there are no extreme observations, the median is often less accurate than the mean.

Why would you use median over average?

Advantage of the median: The median is less affected by outliers and skewed data than the mean, and is usually the preferred measure of central tendency when the distribution is not symmetrical.