Which option defines the mean of a data set?

Which option defines the mean of a data set?

• A. The oldest value in the data
• B. The range between max and min
• C. Add all numbers in a list, and divide by how many there are
• D. The median of the list

Answer: (C)

The mean is a measure of center calculated by distributing the total of all values evenly among the data points. To find it, you add every value together and divide by how many data points there are. This exact process—adding all numbers and dividing by the count—defines the mean. Other options describe different ideas: the oldest value isn’t about central tendency, the range is a measure of spread (max minus min), and the median is the middle value when the data are ordered.

The mean is a measure of center calculated by distributing the total of all values evenly among the data points. To find it, you add every value together and divide by how many data points there are. This exact process—adding all numbers and dividing by the count—defines the mean. Other options describe different ideas: the oldest value isn’t about central tendency, the range is a measure of spread (max minus min), and the median is the middle value when the data are ordered.