Final answer:
The most meaningful average for ranked data is the median because it is not affected by outliers and represents the middle value of the data set accurately. The correct option is b) the median
Step-by-step explanation:
When data are ranked, the most meaningful average is b) the median. The median is the middle value of a data set when the numbers are arranged in order. It is a better measure of the center when the data contains outliers or extreme values because it is not influenced by those extreme values as the mean might be.
The mode represents the most frequently occurring value in the data set and can be useful when the most common data point is of interest. The mean, calculated by adding all the values and dividing by the number of values, reflects the entire data set but can be skewed by outliers. In a symmetrical distribution, the mean, median, and mode would all be the same, effectively providing a consistent measure of central tendency.
However, when data are ranked with potential outliers, the median often represents the center of the data more accurately without being skewed by extreme values.
The correct option is b) the median