Average daily temperatures are most likely calculated using which method of central tendency?

The average daily temperatures are most likely calculated using the mean because the mean provides a comprehensive reflection of the overall temperature data. To find the mean, all temperature readings for a specific period are added together and then divided by the number of readings. This method incorporates every data point, allowing it to represent the general trend of the temperatures adequately.

Although other methods such as the median, mode, and midrange offer valuable insights, they do not account for the entire dataset in a way that captures the overall average. The median identifies the middle value when data is sorted, potentially missing out on the influence of extreme temperatures. The mode focuses on the most frequently occurring temperature, which may not accurately represent the central tendency of all collected data, especially in varied climates. The midrange, while useful, simply averages the highest and lowest values and can be skewed by outliers. Therefore, the mean is the preferred method for calculating average daily temperatures, as it comprehensively reflects the overall data set.