Final answer:
In statistics, the term 'average' typically refers to the mean, but can also be used to describe other measures of central tendency like the median and mode. The correct choice given the options is 'B. The term average is often used in statistics to represent the mean.' However, for datasets with outliers, the median might be a more appropriate measure of what is typical for the data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term average in the context of statistics is generally understood to mean the mean, which is the sum of all values divided by the number of values. However, the term 'average' can sometimes be used more generally to refer to measures of central tendency, which include the mean, median, and mode. In the case of income data for a state like Florida, where there can be extreme values or outliers, the median is often a better representation because it is less affected by these extreme values. The median is the middle value when all are arranged in order. Given the options provided, the correct answer would be 'B. The term average is often used in statistics to represent the mean.' However, the given statement suggests that sometimes median can be a better measure of central tendency for certain datasets with outliers.
For example, if there is a small town of 50 people where one person earns $5,000,000 per year and the other 49 each earn $30,000, the mean would be significantly higher due to the outlier, but the median income would better represent what most people earn. Therefore, saying that a small truck gets 35 miles per gallon, on average, may refer to the mean fuel efficiency calculated across several measurements, but the median might be more indicative of the typical performance most drivers will experience.
It is important to consider the context and the nature of the data when deciding whether to use the mean or the median to represent 'average' values.