IBM 7090 Program for Locating Bivariate Means and Bivariate Medians

摘要

The FORTRAN II program presented here locates two points in a plane. The first is the bivariate analogue of the median, which shares with the median the property of being a center about which the sum of absolute departures is a minimum. An iterative procedure must be used to locate this point. The second point is analogous to the arithmetic mean and is the point from which squared departures is a minimum. The bivariate mean is located by a direct mathematical solution. This report contains: (1) a brief summary of the nature and uses of the bivariate mean and median, (2) the method used to obtain these points, (3) instructions for using the program, including a worked example, and (4) the program listing. (Author)