Which of the following represents the average in a data set?

The average of a data set is represented by the mean. The mean is calculated by summing all the values in the data set and then dividing that sum by the total number of values. This measure provides a central value that summarizes the data as a whole, making it useful for understanding the general trend or typical value within that set.

In contrast, the median represents the middle value when the data is arranged in ascending order, and it is particularly useful in skewed distributions as it is less affected by extreme values. The mode indicates the most frequently occurring value in a data set, which does not necessarily represent the average or central tendency. The range measures the spread of the data by calculating the difference between the highest and lowest values, but it does not convey information about central tendency. Therefore, the mean is the most appropriate representation of average in this context.