Which characteristic of data is a measure of the amount that the data values vary?

• A. $\mathrm{Standard} \mathrm{deviation}$
• B. $\mathrm{Mean}$
• C. $\mathrm{Mode}$
• D. $\mathrm{Median}$

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is asking about a characteristic of data that measures how much the data values vary or spread out from the center.
2. Recall the definitions of the given options: Mean is the average value, Mode is the most frequent value, Median is the middle value when data is ordered, and Standard deviation measures the average distance of data points from the mean.
3. Recognize that measures of central tendency (Mean, Mode, Median) describe the center of the data, but do not quantify variability or spread.
4. Identify that Standard deviation is specifically designed to quantify the amount of variation or dispersion in a data set.
5. Conclude that the characteristic measuring the amount that data values vary is the Standard deviation.