What is the median of the following set: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11?

To determine the median of a set of numbers, the first step is to arrange the numbers in ascending order if they are not already sorted. In this case, the numbers 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 are already in ordered sequence.

The median represents the middle value in a data set. When dealing with an odd number of values, as is the case here (there are five numbers), the median is the value located at the center of the set. For five numbers, the median is the third value.

Counting to the third position in the ordered list, we find the numbers as follows:

1. 3

2. 5

3. 7

4. 9

5. 11

Thus, the median of this set is 7, the value located in the middle. This process allows us to confidently identify the median without needing to consider other values, as the position of the median is straightforward in this instance.