Find the difference between the medians of the data 21, 41, 34, 19, 37 and the data 33, 23, 27, 39, 31.

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -2nd)

Explanation

To find the median of the first dataset (21, 41, 34, 19, 37), first arrange it in ascending order: 19, 21, 34, 37, 41. The middle value is 34.
To find the median of the second dataset (33, 23, 27, 39, 31), first arrange it in ascending order: 23, 27, 31, 33, 39. The middle value is 31.
The difference between the two medians is calculated by subtracting the second median from the first: 34 - 31 = 3.

Option B: This value would result from an error in identifying the median of one or both datasets, or a simple miscalculation during subtraction.
Option C: This value is incorrect and likely stems from a significant calculation error, such as using the wrong values from the datasets (e.g., subtracting the first value of one set from the last of another).
Option D: This value represents a calculation error when finding the medians or subtracting them.

Visual 1: No visual is required for this type of mathematical calculation question.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Calculating the median of a dataset and finding the difference between two medians as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding measures of central tendency like the median is a fundamental skill for interpreting clinical data, patient statistics, and research findings in nursing.
A nurse might look at the median length of hospital stay for a specific condition to understand typical patient recovery times. The median is preferred over the mean (average) because it is not skewed by a few patients with extremely long or short stays (outliers).
What if? If a dataset had an even number of values, the median would be the average of the two middle numbers. For the set (19, 21, 34, 37), the two middle numbers are 21 and 34, so the median would be (21 + 34) / 2 = 27.5.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core task: The question asks for the 'difference between the medians' of two distinct sets of data.
Recall the definition of a median: It is the middle value in a dataset that has been arranged in numerical order.
Process the first dataset: Arrange the numbers (19, 21, 34, 37, 41) and identify the middle number, which is 34.
Process the second dataset: Arrange the numbers (23, 27, 31, 33, 39) and identify the middle number, which is 31.
Perform the final operation as requested by the question, which is to find the difference: 34 - 31 = 3.
Finally, match your calculated result (3) with the given options to find the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Calculating the median of a dataset and finding the difference between two medians.
Stem keywords: median, data, difference, 21, 41, 34, 19, 37, 33, 23, 27, 39, 31
Lead-in keywords: Find the difference

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -2nd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.