What is the definition of "median" in a data set?

• A. The sum of all values
• B. The average of the values
• C. The middle value of an ordered set
• D. The value that occurs most frequently

Answer: (C)

The median is defined as the middle value of an ordered set of numbers. To find the median, you first arrange the numbers in ascending order. If there is an odd number of values in the set, the median is the value that is located exactly in the middle. If there is an even number of values, the median is calculated by averaging the two middle numbers. This characteristic makes the median a useful measure of central tendency, especially in data sets that may contain outliers or skewed distributions, as it provides a better representation of the typical value in such cases.

In contrast, other options represent different statistical concepts: summing all values defines the total, the average involves dividing the sum by the number of values, and the most frequently occurring value describes the mode. However, none of these terms correspond to the median, which specifically relates to the middle placement within a sorted data set.