Last Updated on May 5, 2023
GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE PS
Solution:
An easy way to determine which data value is the median is to take the total number of shipments, add 1, and then divide by 2:
(11 + 1)/2 = 6
Thus, the median will be the 6th shipment. (Remember, we will have to list the data values in ascending order, and the 6th value will be the median.)
We can always use the above method of determining the median when we have an odd number of terms.
Let’s start by ordering the approximate number of shipments from least to greatest with the year in parentheses. Since we know the median is the 6th shipment, we can stop once we get to the 6th term.
1) 180,000 (1991)
2) 190,000 (1990)
3) 210,000 (1992)
4) 280,000 (1993)
5) 280,000 (2000)
6) 305,000 (1994)
We see that 305,000 is the median number of shipments, which is closest to 310,000.
Answer: C
