What is the definition of average in mathematics?

The definition of average in mathematics refers specifically to the measure of central tendency that represents the expected value of a set of numbers. To find the average, one takes the sum of all the values in the set and then divides that sum by the total number of values present. This process essentially provides a single number that summarizes the central point of the dataset, which is helpful in understanding the overall distribution and tendency of the values.

In practical terms, if you have a group of numbers, adding them together gives you their total, and dividing this total by how many numbers there are allows you to find the average. This is commonly referred to as the arithmetic mean. Thus, choosing the option that describes the sum of terms divided by the number of terms accurately captures this mathematical definition of average.