With median age 65 and mean age 62 for COVID-19 admissions, which statement best describes the data?

• A. Half of admissions were under the age of 65
• B. Half of admissions were over the age of 65
• C. The average age is 65
• D. The median and mean are the same

Answer: (A)

The main concept is median versus mean. The median is the value that splits the data into two equal halves, so a median age of 65 means about 50% of admissions are at or below 65 and the other 50% are at or above 65. Saying that roughly half are under 65 aligns with that interpretation, even though some individuals might be exactly 65. The mean age being 62 indicates the average is pulled down by younger ages, which happens in a left-skewed distribution; it doesn’t contradict the median being 65. The other options are less accurate: the average age is not 65, and the median and mean are not the same here.