Short Answer 
To calculate the median of a data set, first organize the values in ascending order. Then, identify the middle positions (12th and 13th) and average them; in this case, both are 17, resulting in a median of 17.
Step 1: Organize the Data Set
Begin by listing all the values in your data set in ascending order. For this example, the values are:
- 16, 16, 16, 16, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19
This organization is crucial because it allows you to effectively determine the middle value of the numbers.
Step 2: Identify the Position of the Median
To find the median, count the total number of values in the list. In this instance, there are 24 values. Since there is an even number of data points, the median is found by averaging the two middle numbers. The two middle positions are the 12th and 13th values.
Step 3: Calculate the Median Value
Examine the values located at the 12th and 13th positions in your ordered data set. Here, both the 12th and 13th values are 17. To find the median, compute the average:
- The average of 17 and 17 is (17 + 17)/2 = 17
Thus, the median of the data set is 17.