What is the median of the data set 70, 85, 98, 70, 82?

• A. 70
• B. 82
• C. 85
• D. 98

Answer: (B)

To find the median, you first sort the data and then pick the middle value. With five numbers, the middle is the third one in the ordered list. Sorting gives 70, 70, 82, 85, 98, so the middle value is 82. Therefore, the median is 82. The other numbers are the smallest, the largest, and a value adjacent to the middle, but the central value in the ordered set is what defines the median here.