An urban community was concerned about lead levels in their water supply. Lead levels were measured for one week, and the results are represented below: Sunday: 0.42, Monday: 0.48, Tuesday: 0.66, Wednesday: 0.73, Thursday: 1.10, Friday: 1.10, Saturday: 5.40. What is the median level?

Rationale

The median level of lead in the water supply is 0.73.

To find the median, the lead levels must be arranged in ascending order: 0.42, 0.48, 0.66, 0.73, 1.10, 1.10, and 5.40. With seven data points, the median is the fourth number in this ordered list, which is 0.73.

A (0.73) CORRECT

This choice is the correct answer as it represents the fourth value in the ordered sequence of lead levels measured throughout the week.

B (1.1) YOUR ANSWER

This option, while present in the data set, represents one of the higher values in the ordered list. It is the fifth element, making it a value greater than the median, which is specifically defined as the middle number of an ordered data set.

C (1.41) YOUR ANSWER

This choice does not appear in the measured lead levels at all, making it an incorrect option. The median must derive from the actual data set provided, and 1.41 is not one of those values.

D (0.42) YOUR ANSWER

Although this is the lowest value in the data set, it represents the first element in the ordered list. The median is determined by the middle value, so 0.42 cannot be the median since it is far from the central point of the data.

Conclusion

The median is a statistical measure that identifies the middle value of an ordered data set. In this case, the median lead level of 0.73 accurately reflects the central tendency of the recorded values for the week, providing a critical understanding of the water quality in the urban community. Other choices either misidentify the median or do not correspond to the measured lead levels.

An urban community was concerned about lead levels in their water supply. Lead levels were measured for one week, and the results are represented below: Sunday: 0.42, Monday: 0.48, Tuesday: 0.66, Wednesday: 0.73, Thursday: 1.10, Friday: 1.10, Saturday: 5.40. What is the median level?

The median level of lead in the water supply is 0.73.

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