IntermediateStatistical Functions
Average or median for this data?
Pick the right summary statistic for a set with one huge outlier.
AVERAGE · MEDIAN
4 min20 points
Find the typical order size with MEDIAN
The situation
Harbor Supply's average order value jumped last month and the sales director is convinced the team is upselling well. Looking at the list, one distributor placed a single enormous restocking order. The median will show what a typical order actually looks like.
A1
fx
| Row number | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order | Customer | Value | ||
| 2 | SO-4101 | Dockside Hardware | $420 | ||
| 3 | SO-4102 | Fenwick Building | $380 | ||
| 4 | SO-4103 | Alder & Vance | $510 | ||
| 5 | SO-4104 | Riverbend Trade | $465 | ||
| 6 | SO-4105 | Kemper Outfitters | $390 | ||
| 7 | SO-4106 | Halloway Supply | $445 | ||
| 8 | SO-4107 | Northgate Distribution | $12,800 | ||
| 9 | SO-4108 | Pierce Contractors | $405 | ||
| 10 | SO-4109 | Windrow Merchants | $430 | ||
| 11 | SO-4110 | Ashby Trading | $475 | ||
| 12 | |||||
| 13 | Median order | ||||
| 14 |
Functions in this exercise
- MEDIAN — Returns the middle value — the one an outlier can't drag around.
Who this is for
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Average or median for this data?
Pick the right summary statistic for a set with one huge outlier.
AVERAGE · MEDIAN
4 min20 points