What does the mean of a data set represent?

The mean of a data set is defined as the average value, which is calculated by summing all the individual values in the data set and then dividing that total by the number of values. This gives a sense of the central tendency of the data.

When you consider a data set, the mean provides a single value that summarizes the overall level of the data, making it useful for understanding the dataset as a whole. For instance, if you have a set of test scores, the mean will indicate the average performance of the group.

In contrast to the mean, the highest value in the data set reflects only the maximum score and does not provide information about other values. The sum of all values gives the total amount but does not indicate how they relate to one another or to the average. The middle value, known as the median, is determined by ordering the data and finding the central position, which is not the same as the mean. Thus, the correct answer captures the essence of what the mean represents in statistical terms.