How the Average Triumphed Over the Median

Source: How the Average Triumphed Over the Median

The average has triumphed as the primary statistic of our time. We explore how the average came to dominate how we talk about data, and whether we would be better off using the median.

The supremacy of the average over the median has had profound consequences about how we understand data. In many cases, it has led us astray.

Recognize the huge impact a small number of extreme values – or a skewed distribution – can have on the average.