How is the mean of a dataset calculated?

The mean of a dataset is calculated by summing all the values within that dataset and then dividing by the total number of values. This process gives a single value that represents the average of the dataset. The mean provides a useful measure of central tendency, helping to summarize a large set of numbers with a single representative value.

In contrast, finding the middle value when the data is sorted pertains to calculating the median, and identifying the most frequently occurring value refers to the mode. Adding the highest and lowest values together does not yield any established statistical measure associated with the dataset's central tendency. These methods serve distinct purposes, whereas the summation and division method specifically results in the mean.