What is the difference between "mean" and "median"?

In some of our software we provide, the mean and median statistical values (selectable on or off). Before the wide spread use of computers, the median was often used to estimate the mean. As some of the standards using the median are still in use, then for the foreseeable future we will continue to offer this summary statistic.

The statistical terms "mean" and "median" are measures of central tendency which expressed as a single value attempt to describe (or summarise) a set of data by identifying the central position within that set of data.

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