Calculate the median of the following set of numbers: 3, 7, 8, 5, 12.

• A. 5
• B. 6
• C. 7
• D. 8

Answer: (C)

To find the median of a set of numbers, the first step is to arrange them in numerical order. For the numbers 3, 7, 8, 5, and 12, when arranged from smallest to largest, the set becomes: 3, 5, 7, 8, 12.

Next, the median is defined as the middle value of a sorted list of numbers. In this case, since there are five numbers, the median will be the third number in this ordered list (as the middle number is calculated by taking the total number of values, adding one, and dividing by two, which in this case points directly to the third position).

Looking at the ordered list:

1. 3

2. 5

3. 7

4. 8

5. 12

The third value is 7. Thus, the median of this set of numbers is 7. This indicates that 7 is the value that separates the higher half from the lower half of the data set, providing a clear understanding of the central tendency of the numbers.