How do you calculate the mean of a data set?

To find the mean of a data set, the process involves summing all the individual data values and then dividing that total by the number of values in the set. This method provides an average that reflects the central tendency of the data.

When you sum all of the values, you obtain a single total that represents the aggregate of the data points. By dividing this total by the count of data points, you effectively distribute the total equally across all observations, resulting in the mean. This calculation serves as a meaningful measure of central location, as it takes into account every value in the data set.

The other options describe different statistical concepts. Ordering data to find the middle value pertains to finding the median, which measures central tendency differently by focusing on the midpoint rather than the average. Multiplying each data value by its frequency is relevant when dealing with frequency distributions but does not directly yield the mean unless further calculations are involved. Finally, standard deviation is a measure of variability, indicating how spread out the values are from the mean, but it does not help in calculating the mean itself.