Final answer:
For measuring the center of a data set such as male heights in a country, the mean is generally used if the data is normally distributed without outliers, while the median is better when outliers are present. The mode is useful when there is a value that frequently occurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The selection of an appropriate measure of center for a set of data depends on the characteristics of the data itself. When considering the best measure of center for the average height of males in a country, we typically refer to the mean, median, and mode. If the data is normally distributed with no significant outliers, the mean provides a good estimate of the center. In contrast, if the data set includes outliers or extreme values, the median is often more representative of the center since it is not skewed by those extreme values. The mode can be useful in cases where there is a value that occurs more frequently than any other.
For example, when looking at the average height of young adult males, if the distribution is normal with a limited range of variation and no significant outliers, the mean would be a suitable measure of the center. However, if there are significant outliers in the height data, such as extremely tall or short individuals, the median might be more appropriate. Considering the information provided on 15-to-18-year-old males from Chile having a normal distribution of heights, the mean would be the most appropriate measure of center.