Step 1: Write the sum of all observations.
Sum = \(k + (k+8) + (2k-1) + (k+12) + 12 + 17\).
Combine like terms: \(k + k + 2k + k = 5k\).
Constants: \(8 - 1 + 12 + 12 + 17 = 48\).
Sum = \(5k + 48\).
Step 2: Use the mean formula.
Mean = \(\frac{5k + 48}{6} = 13\).
\(5k + 48 = 78\).
\(5k = 30\).
\(k = 6\).
Step 3: List all observations.
\(k = 6\), \(k+8 = 14\), \(2k-1 = 11\), \(k+12 = 18\), 12, 17.
Set: \(\{6, 14, 11, 18, 12, 17\}\).
Step 4: Sort the observations.
Sorted: \(6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18\).
Number of observations \(n = 6\) (even).
Step 5: Compute median.
Median = average of \(\frac{n}{2}\)th and \(\frac{n}{2}+1\)th terms.
= average of 3rd term (12) and 4th term (14).
= \(\frac{12 + 14}{2} = 13\).