California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

In statistics, what does the median represent?

1. The average of all data points.

2. The middle value when data points are arranged in order.

3. The value that appears most frequently.

4. The highest value in the data set.

The correct answer is: The middle value when data points are arranged in order.

The median is defined as the middle value of a data set when the numbers are organized in ascending or descending order. This means that half of the data points lie below the median and half lie above it, making it a useful measure of central tendency, especially in datasets that may be skewed by extreme values. By focusing on the middle value, the median provides a more accurate representation of a typical value in a dataset compared to measures like the average, which can be disproportionately affected by outliers. In cases where there is an even number of observations, the median is determined by taking the average of the two middle values, ensuring that it still reflects the central point of the dataset.