What is the definition of median in a dataset?

The definition of median in a dataset is accurately described as the midpoint value in an ordered set. The median represents the value that separates the higher half from the lower half of the data points when they are arranged in ascending or descending order. If there is an odd number of values, the median is the middle number. In the case of an even number of values, the median is calculated as the average of the two middle numbers. This measure is particularly useful as it is not influenced by extreme values or outliers, providing a central value that is representative of the dataset's distribution.

The other options refer to different statistical measures. The highest number in the dataset describes the maximum value, while the average value refers to the mean, which is computed by summing all values and dividing by the count. The most frequently occurring value pertains to the mode, which identifies the value that appears most often in the dataset. Each of these measures serves different purposes in data analysis, with the median specifically focusing on the central value in a sorted arrangement.