shortcut to finding the median without a computer

Question

I hear there is a shorter method of finding the median in an array without having to write out all the values in an array, please advise

Answer 1

Question: shortcut to finding the median without a computer.

The median is the middle value.

If you have an array of values, then the median is that value that separates the upper half of the array from the lower half.

If the number of elements in your array A[ ] is odd, i.e. N = 2n+1, then the median, M = A[n+1]

If the number of elements in your array A[ ] is even, i.e. N = 2n, then the median, M = (A[n-1]+A[n+1])/2

i.e. M is the mean of the two middle values.

If you don't want to use a computer, then you will have to visually inspect the arrray.

Once you know the number of elements in the array, N, then you will have to manually count along until you reach the middle element, which is your median (or two middle ements, the mean of which is your median)