# Prove that the Mean deviation from the median is the least.

[ M . D(M e ) M . D (A )]

Or, prove that the mean deviation is the least when the deviation is measured from the

[ M . D(M e ) M . D ( A )]

median.

Or, Prove that

I x iM e I
n

i=1

is the least, where

Me

is the median of xs.

Proof
Let us suppose that we have set of even no. of observations say n=2p which are arranged in
ascending order of magnitude as follows:
x 1 , x 2 , x p , x p+1 , x p +2 , , x p+ k , x p+k +1 , x p+k +2 , .. x 2 p
Me

Hence the median denoted by

lies between
Me

Let A be an arbitrary value greater than

xp

&

which lies between

Then by the definition:

n

M . D(M e )

i=1

M . D( A)

=
i=1

I x iM e I
n

I x i A I
n
n

We are to prove that,

i=1

>

I x iM e I
i=1

Now,

I x iM e I
n
n

<

<

I x i A I
i=1

x p+1

i=1

I x i A I
n

.
x p+k

&

x p+k +1

(K<P),

i=1

I x iM e I
n

=(
+(

M e x1 +(M e x2 )

x p+1M e +(x p+2 M e )

++
+..+

x p+k +1M e +(x p+k +2M e )

+(

( M e x p)

(x p+k M e )

+..+

( x 2 p M e )
.. (1)

i=1

I x i A I
n

( Ax 1 +( Ax 2) ++ ( A x p )

=
+(
+(

Ax p +1 +( Ax p +2)

+..+

x p+k +1A +( x p +k+2 A)

( A x p +k )

+..+

(x 2 p A )
.. (2)

From (2) (1) we get,

n

i=1

I x i A I
n

. + (A-

-
i=1

I x iM e I
n

= PA-

(A- M e + ..

Me

2 x p +1

) + (A+

Me

2 x p +2

) +..+ (A+

Me

)
+(

= P (A-

M e +

Me
+ (A+

2 x p +1

= (A-

Me +
Me p

M e A + ( M e A ) + .. ..+(M e A)

{( A+ M e ) + ( A+ M e ) + ( A + M e ) 2 ( x p +1 + x p +2 ++ x p+ k ) }

+ (p-k) (

A+ M e )
Me
x + x ++ x p +k )
+K (
+P
- PA K Me +KA- 2 ( p+1 p+2

M e A

= PA-

Me p

Me

+KA+K

+P

Me

x +x ++ x p +k )
- PA K Me + KA -2 ( p+1 p+2

x +x ++ x p +k )
= 2KA 2 ( p+1 p+2
Ax p+1 ) + ( Ax p+2 ) + ..+ ( Ax p+k ) ]
= 2 [(
n

i=1

I x i A I
n

-
i=1

I x i A I

i=1

i=1

i=1

I x iM e I
n

>

I x iM e I

i=1

I x iM e I

I x iM e I
n

I x i A I
i=1

i=1

I x i A I
n

M . D(M e ) M . D (A )

Thus the mean deviation is the least when the deviation is measured from the median.
(Proved)