An agricultural scientist measured the water absorption capacity of three different types of superabsorbent polymer gels (Gel A, Gel B, and Gel C) used in soil conditioning. Six trials were conducted for each gel type, and the mass of water absorbed (in grams per gram of gel) was recorded in the table below:
| Gel Type | Trial 1 (g) | Trial 2 (g) | Trial 3 (g) | Trial 4 (g) | Trial 5 (g) | Trial 6 (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gel A | 42.1 | 44.5 | 41.8 | 43.2 | 45.0 | 42.6 |
| Gel B | 51.5 | 48.2 | 53.4 | 49.8 | 50.6 | 52.1 |
| Gel C | 33.7 | 35.2 | 34.0 | 32.9 | 36.1 | 34.5 |
Based on the table, what is the median water absorption capacity, in grams, for Gel B across the 6 trials?
Answer: 51.05 g
Answer
The median water absorption capacity for Gel B across the 6 trials is 51.05 grams.
The correct answer is 51.05. To find the median value for Gel B, the 6 water absorption capacities must first be ordered from least to greatest: 48.2, 49.8, 50.6, 51.5, 52.1, and 53.4. Because there is an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle values (50.6 and 51.5), which is 51.05.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Calculating the median of a dataset with an even number of values.