Last year for 6 consecutive months, Sam recorded the total number of miles for each month. These miles were: 1,086, 997, 1,534, 1,637, 880 and 1,002. What was the median number of miles that Sam drove during those months? miles

The median number of miles that Sam drove during those months is 1044 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

The median separates the upper half from the lower half of a set. So 50% of the values in a data set lie at or below the median, and 50% lie at or above the median.

For a set of n values

First we order the values in an increasing way.

If n is odd, the median is the value at the position (n+1) / 2

If n is even, the median is the average of the values at the positions n/2 and (n/2) + 1

In this problem:

6 values

Ordered in an increasing way:

880, 997, 1002, 1086, 1534, 1637

6 is an even value.

6/2 = 3. The third element is 1002

6/2 + 1 = 4. The fourth element is 1086.

Average: (1002 + 1086) / 2 = 1044

The median number of miles that Sam drove during those months is 1044 miles