What do descriptive statistics typically summarize about a dataset?

Descriptive statistics provide a comprehensive summary of important features of a dataset, and the correct answer encapsulates this by mentioning central tendency, variability, and distribution.

Central tendency refers to the measures that represent the center of a dataset, such as the mean, median, and mode. These measures give an idea of where most values in a dataset fall. Variability, on the other hand, indicates how spread out the values are within the dataset—this can be quantified using metrics like range, variance, or standard deviation. Finally, distribution describes how the values are arranged and can include details such as skewness and kurtosis, providing insights into the overall shape of the data.

Together, these components offer a well-rounded view of the dataset, allowing analysts to understand not just the central value but also how consistent or varied the data is and how it is structured. This is essential for making informed decisions based on data.