California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

Which of the following represents a constant number?

1. A variable

2. A ratio

3. A mean

4. A rational number

The correct answer is: A mean

To identify what represents a constant number, it's important to understand each of the options presented. A constant number is a fixed value that does not change. When considering the answer regarding the mean, it is a specific statistical measure calculated from a set of numbers. The mean provides a fixed value that summarizes the central tendency of the data set. Once the values in the data set are determined, the mean will yield a constant number based on those specific values, making it a natural representative of a constant. On the other hand, a variable refers to a symbol used to represent a quantity that can change, thus it does not represent a constant. A ratio compares two quantities and can change depending on the values being compared, which also does not constitute a constant. A rational number represents any number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, and while any individual rational number is a constant itself, the term broadly encompasses an entire category of numbers rather than specifying a single, fixed value. Thus, the mean, as a calculated average based on a specific dataset, consistently returns a constant number given those inputs, establishing it as the most suitable representation of a constant number among the options presented.