Which statistic describes the middle value when data are ordered?

• A. Mean
• B. Mode
• C. Median
• D. Range

Answer: (C)

The statistic that describes the middle value when data are ordered is the median. When you line up all the data from smallest to largest, the median is the value that sits in the center. If there’s an odd number of data points, it’s the exact middle observation; if there’s an even number, you average the two central observations. This makes the median a natural measure of central tendency for ordered data, especially when there are outliers or skewed distributions, because it reflects the central position without being swayed by extreme values.

The mean, by contrast, is the arithmetic average of all values and can be pulled toward extreme numbers in skewed data. The mode is the most frequent value and may not lie near the center or could be multiple values. The range measures spread—the difference between the largest and smallest values—not the central location.