A trivial point in this discussion, but of some consequence in assessment of data, the average is almost always NOT the 50% point of a population. The Median is the midpoint -- that is 50% of the population is above and 50% below the Median.
The Average [or Mean] for a population is very dependent on the distribution of the elements of the population. It is entirely possible that 1% of a population could be above the Mean value [above average] and 99% below <some members of the 1% will be incredibly greater than the Mean value for that to be true.. In rectangular and Gaussian distributions the Mean and the Median can be expected to have the same value. But most other distributions will have the Mean above or below the Median value. Tod, K0TO On 2/10/12 5:26 PM, "Joe Subich, W4TV" <li...@subich.com> wrote: > > > On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:05 AM, Jim F.<j_fit...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > >> A smart engineer I used to work with at Western Electric said: > >> (paraphrasing) > >> > >> Most of the people on this earth are below average. > >In truth, exactly 50% of the people on this earth are below average - >not most. Still that's a sobering thought for anyone who expects >average and bases expectations on average. > >73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK