What value represents the midpoint of an ordered set of values?

The midpoint of an ordered set of values is defined as the median. The median is the value that separates the higher half from the lower half of a data set. When the values in a set are arranged in ascending or descending order, the median can be found by locating the middle number. If there is an odd number of values, the median is the exact middle number. If there is an even number of values, the median is calculated by taking the average of the two middle numbers.

In contrast, the mean refers to the average of all values in a set, which is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values. The mode represents the value that appears most frequently in a set. The range measures the difference between the highest and lowest values in the set, thus providing a sense of spread rather than a central point. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why the median accurately represents the midpoint in data analysis.