What is the term for the measure of center found by adding the data values and dividing by the number of values?

Prepare for ASU's STP226 Elements of Statistics Exam 1. Enhance your statistical skills with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and practice materials. Master statistical concepts effectively!

The term for the measure of center that involves adding all the data values together and dividing by the number of values is known as the mean. This is a commonly used measure of central tendency that provides an average of the dataset. It is calculated by summing all the individual data points and then dividing the total by the count of those data points. This process gives a single value that represents the overall level of the dataset and is sensitive to every value in the dataset, making it reflective of changes in values.

In contrast, the median represents the middle value when the data is arranged in ascending or descending order, while the mode refers to the value that appears most frequently in the dataset. The range measures the spread between the highest and lowest values but does not indicate a central point. Understanding these differences helps clarify why the mean is the appropriate answer in this context.

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