Which of the following best describes a 5 number summary?

The five-number summary is a statistical tool that provides a concise overview of a data set by summarizing specific percentiles. It specifically includes the minimum value (the smallest data point), the first quartile (Q1, which represents the 25th percentile), the median (the 50th percentile), the third quartile (Q3, representing the 75th percentile), and the maximum value (the largest data point). This summary is valuable as it highlights the spread and center of the data, while also identifying potential outliers. By encompassing these five key data points, a five-number summary facilitates a deeper understanding of the distribution of the dataset without overwhelming detail.

Option A describes a complete listing of all data points, which is not what a five-number summary entails. Option C refers to graphical representations, such as box plots, which can be derived from the five-number summary but do not describe it directly. Option D speaks to methods for calculating averages, which are concepts distinct from the role and purpose of a five-number summary.