Which of the following is NOT a measure of central tendency?

Variance is not a measure of central tendency. Measures of central tendency are statistical tools used to summarize a set of data by identifying the central point within that dataset. The mean, median, and mode are all examples of measures of central tendency:

• The mean is the average of all data points, providing a central value that represents the dataset.
• The median is the middle value when the data points are arranged in ascending or descending order, offering a central point that can be less influenced by outliers.
• The mode is the most frequently occurring value in the dataset, highlighting the value that appears most often.

In contrast, variance measures the dispersion or spread of the data points around the mean, quantifying how much the values differ from the average. It assesses the variability within a dataset rather than indicating a central value, thereby distinguishing it from measures of central tendency. Understanding this distinction is important when analyzing data, as it informs how we interpret and summarize the information.