Find the Lower or First Quartile 36 , 7 , 8 , 47 , 21 , 9 , 39 , 42 , 2 , 49 , 46

There are ${\displaystyle 11}$ observations, so the median is the middle number of the arranged set of data. Splitting the observations either side of the median gives two groups of observations. The median of the lower half of data is the lower or first quartile. The median of the upper half of data is the upper or third quartile.

Arrange the terms in ascending order.

The median is the middle term in the arranged data set.

The lower half of data is the set below the median.