What does the median represent in a dataset?

The median represents the middle value in a dataset when the data is arranged in ascending order. This measure is particularly significant because it provides a central point that divides the dataset into two equal halves, meaning that half of the data points are below the median and half are above it.

The median is a robust statistic, especially useful in the presence of outliers or skewed data distributions, as it is not influenced by extreme values. This property makes it a preferred measure of central tendency in many situations, as it reflects the central position of a dataset more accurately than the mean when the data is not symmetrically distributed.

In contrast, the most frequently occurring value refers to the mode, the average of all data points pertains to the mean, and the sum of all data points is simply a calculation that does not represent a measure of central tendency.