Module 5 · Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics Lesson 44 of 120
Median Absolute Deviation
Robust central spread without confusing two MADs.
Transcript
19 sentences · select one to jump thereCheck your understanding
Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
Code lab
Run it yourself
The lesson source in 7 languages. Edit it, run TypeScript and Python right here, and compare with the expected output.
/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
* Median Absolute Deviation
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
* Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
*
* Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
export function lesson044() {
const x = [1,2,2,4,9];
const med = (a: number[]) => { const s=[...a].sort((p,q)=>p-q), m=Math.floor(s.length/2);
return s.length % 2 ? s[m] : (s[m-1]+s[m])/2; };
const center = med(x);
const raw = med(x.map(v=>Math.abs(v-center)));
const result = {raw, normalScaled: 1.4826*raw};
return result;
}
export const checkedResult = {"raw":1,"normalScaled":1.4826};
// Run this file directly: npx tsx lessons/05-dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/044-median-absolute-deviation.ts
if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url.endsWith(process.argv[1].replace(/\\/g, "/").split("/").pop()!)) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(lesson044(), null, 2));
}
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}# Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
# Median Absolute Deviation
# Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
#
# Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
# Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
#
# Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
#
# Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
# Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
# Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
import json
def median(a: list) -> float:
s = sorted(a)
m = len(s) // 2
return s[m] if len(s) % 2 else (s[m - 1] + s[m]) / 2
def lesson044() -> dict:
x = [1, 2, 2, 4, 9]
center = median(x)
raw = median([abs(v - center) for v in x])
return {"raw": raw, "normalScaled": 1.4826 * raw}
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(json.dumps(lesson044(), indent=2))
Your output
Press Run to execute the code in your browser.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
* Median Absolute Deviation
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
* Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
*
* Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
public class Main {
static double median(double[] a) {
double[] s = a.clone();
Arrays.sort(s);
int m = s.length / 2;
return s.length % 2 == 1 ? s[m] : (s[m - 1] + s[m]) / 2;
}
static Map<String, Object> lesson044() {
double[] x = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double center = median(x);
double[] distances = new double[x.length];
for (int i = 0; i < x.length; i++) distances[i] = Math.abs(x[i] - center);
double raw = median(distances);
Map<String, Object> result = new LinkedHashMap<String, Object>();
result.put("raw", raw);
result.put("normalScaled", 1.4826 * raw);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(toJson(lesson044(), ""));
}
// --- Minimal JSON printer: maps keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
static String toJson(Object value, String indent) {
if (value == null) return "null";
if (value instanceof String) return "\"" + value + "\"";
if (value instanceof Double) return formatNumber((Double) value);
if (value instanceof Number) return value.toString();
if (value instanceof double[]) {
List<Object> items = new ArrayList<Object>();
for (double v : (double[]) value) items.add(v);
return toJson(items, indent);
}
String inner = indent + " ";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (value instanceof Map) {
Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
if (map.isEmpty()) return "{}";
sb.append("{\n");
int i = 0;
for (Map.Entry<?, ?> entry : map.entrySet()) {
sb.append(inner).append('"').append(entry.getKey()).append("\": ")
.append(toJson(entry.getValue(), inner))
.append(++i < map.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append('}').toString();
}
List<?> list = (List<?>) value;
if (list.isEmpty()) return "[]";
sb.append("[\n");
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
sb.append(inner).append(toJson(list.get(i), inner))
.append(i + 1 < list.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
return sb.append(indent).append(']').toString();
}
static String formatNumber(double v) {
if (Double.isNaN(v) || Double.isInfinite(v)) return "null";
if (v == Math.rint(v) && Math.abs(v) < 1e15) return Long.toString((long) v);
return Double.toString(v);
}
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
// Median Absolute Deviation
// Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
//
// Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
// Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
//
// Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
"math"
"slices"
)
// MAD holds the raw median absolute deviation and its normal-scaled version.
type MAD struct {
Raw float64 `json:"raw"`
NormalScaled float64 `json:"normalScaled"`
}
func median(a []float64) float64 {
s := slices.Clone(a)
slices.Sort(s)
m := len(s) / 2
if len(s)%2 == 1 {
return s[m]
}
return (s[m-1] + s[m]) / 2
}
func lesson044() MAD {
x := []float64{1, 2, 2, 4, 9}
center := median(x)
distances := make([]float64, len(x))
for i, v := range x {
distances[i] = math.Abs(v - center)
}
raw := median(distances)
return MAD{Raw: raw, NormalScaled: 1.4826 * raw}
}
func main() {
out, _ := json.MarshalIndent(lesson044(), "", " ")
fmt.Println(string(out))
}
No browser runner for Go yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
* Median Absolute Deviation
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
* Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
*
* Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
#include <algorithm>
#include <charconv>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
struct Json {
enum class Kind { Null, Number, Text, Array, Object };
Kind kind = Kind::Null;
double number = 0;
std::string text;
std::vector<std::string> keys; // object keys, parallel to items
std::vector<Json> items; // array elements or object values
};
Json num(double v) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Number; j.number = v; return j; }
Json str(const std::string& s) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Text; j.text = s; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<Json>& values) { Json j; j.kind = Json::Kind::Array; j.items = values; return j; }
Json arr(const std::vector<double>& values) {
std::vector<Json> items;
for (double v : values) items.push_back(num(v));
return arr(items);
}
Json obj(const std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Json>>& fields) {
Json j;
j.kind = Json::Kind::Object;
for (const auto& [key, value] : fields) { j.keys.push_back(key); j.items.push_back(value); }
return j;
}
std::string formatNumber(double v) {
if (!std::isfinite(v)) return "null";
char buf[64];
auto end = std::to_chars(buf, buf + sizeof buf, v).ptr; // shortest round-trip form
return std::string(buf, end);
}
void writeJson(std::ostream& out, const Json& j, const std::string& indent) {
switch (j.kind) {
case Json::Kind::Null: out << "null"; return;
case Json::Kind::Number: out << formatNumber(j.number); return;
case Json::Kind::Text: out << '"' << j.text << '"'; return;
default: break;
}
bool isObject = j.kind == Json::Kind::Object;
if (j.items.empty()) { out << (isObject ? "{}" : "[]"); return; }
std::string inner = indent + " ";
out << (isObject ? "{\n" : "[\n");
for (size_t i = 0; i < j.items.size(); ++i) {
out << inner;
if (isObject) out << '"' << j.keys[i] << "\": ";
writeJson(out, j.items[i], inner);
out << (i + 1 < j.items.size() ? ",\n" : "\n");
}
out << indent << (isObject ? '}' : ']');
}
// --- Lesson ---
double median(std::vector<double> s) { // takes a copy, so sorting is local
std::sort(s.begin(), s.end());
size_t m = s.size() / 2;
return s.size() % 2 ? s[m] : (s[m - 1] + s[m]) / 2;
}
Json lesson044() {
const std::vector<double> x = {1, 2, 2, 4, 9};
double center = median(x);
std::vector<double> distances;
for (double v : x) distances.push_back(std::abs(v - center));
double raw = median(distances);
return obj({{"raw", num(raw)}, {"normalScaled", num(1.4826 * raw)}});
}
int main() {
writeJson(std::cout, lesson044(), "");
std::cout << '\n';
}
No browser runner for C++ yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}// Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
// Median Absolute Deviation
// Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
//
// Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
// Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
//
// Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
//
// Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
// Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
// Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
// --- Minimal JSON value and printer: objects keep insertion order, 2-space indent. ---
#[allow(dead_code)]
enum Json {
Null,
Num(f64),
Str(String),
Arr(Vec<Json>),
Obj(Vec<(String, Json)>),
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn nums(values: &[f64]) -> Json {
Json::Arr(values.iter().map(|&v| Json::Num(v)).collect())
}
#[allow(dead_code)]
fn obj(fields: Vec<(&str, Json)>) -> Json {
Json::Obj(fields.into_iter().map(|(k, v)| (k.to_string(), v)).collect())
}
fn format_number(v: f64) -> String {
if !v.is_finite() {
return "null".to_string();
}
if v.fract() == 0.0 && v.abs() < 1e15 {
return format!("{}", v as i64);
}
format!("{:?}", v) // shortest round-trip form
}
impl Json {
fn render(&self, indent: &str) -> String {
let inner = format!("{} ", indent);
match self {
Json::Null => "null".to_string(),
Json::Num(v) => format_number(*v),
Json::Str(s) => format!("\"{}\"", s),
Json::Arr(items) if items.is_empty() => "[]".to_string(),
Json::Obj(fields) if fields.is_empty() => "{}".to_string(),
Json::Arr(items) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = items.iter().map(|v| format!("{}{}", inner, v.render(&inner))).collect();
format!("[\n{}\n{}]", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
Json::Obj(fields) => {
let lines: Vec<String> = fields
.iter()
.map(|(k, v)| format!("{}\"{}\": {}", inner, k, v.render(&inner)))
.collect();
format!("{{\n{}\n{}}}", lines.join(",\n"), indent)
}
}
}
}
// --- Lesson ---
fn median(a: &[f64]) -> f64 {
let mut s = a.to_vec();
s.sort_by(|p, q| p.partial_cmp(q).unwrap());
let m = s.len() / 2;
if s.len() % 2 == 1 { s[m] } else { (s[m - 1] + s[m]) / 2.0 }
}
fn lesson044() -> Json {
let x: [f64; 5] = [1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 4.0, 9.0];
let center = median(&x);
let distances: Vec<f64> = x.iter().map(|&v| (v - center).abs()).collect();
let raw = median(&distances);
obj(vec![("raw", Json::Num(raw)), ("normalScaled", Json::Num(1.4826 * raw))])
}
fn main() {
println!("{}", lesson044().render(""));
}
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Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}/**
* Fintech Math Bootcamp · Lesson 044 of 120
* Median Absolute Deviation
* Module 05: Dispersion, Shape, and Robust Statistics
*
* Scenario: Robust central spread without confusing two MADs
* Rule: raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)
*
* Try it: Is 1.4826 a universal correction for every distribution?
*
* Lesson article: https://thefintechbuilder.com/financial-mathematics-statistics-and-data-foundations/dispersion-shape-and-robust-statistics/median-absolute-deviation/
* Free course: https://courses.thefintechbuilder.com
* Synthetic teaching example, not financial advice or a production library.
*/
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text.Json;
var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true };
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(Lesson044(), options));
static double Median(double[] a)
{
double[] s = a.OrderBy(v => v).ToArray();
int m = s.Length / 2;
return s.Length % 2 == 1 ? s[m] : (s[m - 1] + s[m]) / 2;
}
static object Lesson044()
{
double[] x = { 1, 2, 2, 4, 9 };
double center = Median(x);
double raw = Median(x.Select(v => Math.Abs(v - center)).ToArray());
return new { raw, normalScaled = 1.4826 * raw };
}
No browser runner for C# yet
Read the code here, then run it in your own toolchain or a ready-made cloud workspace.
Expected output
{
"raw": 1,
"normalScaled": 1.4826
}Prefer your own machine? Every file is in the course repository · open it in Codespaces.
Lesson notes
The rule
raw MAD = median(|x − median(x)|)