In calculating the median assessment ratio, what must you do first?

To determine the median assessment ratio, the first step involves ordering the ratios appropriately. By arranging the ratios in ascending order, from the lowest to the highest, you create a clear sequence that is essential for identifying the median value. The median is defined as the middle number in a sorted list of numbers, so without first sorting the ratios, determining the median would be impossible. This step ensures that the data set is organized correctly, allowing for an accurate calculation of the median.

Calculating the average of all ratios or excluding outliers would not help in finding the median, as these approaches focus on different statistical measures. Sorting the ratios from highest to lowest also does not serve the purpose of finding the median, as the correct arrangement needs to be from lowest to highest to pinpoint the middle value correctly.