What is the definition of a frequency distribution?

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A frequency distribution is best defined as a representation of how often values occur in a data set. This involves organizing data to show the frequency of each value or range of values, effectively providing a clear view of the distribution of the data points. By using a frequency distribution, one can easily analyze patterns, trends, and the overall shape of the data set, making it a powerful tool for statistical analysis.

In the context of the other options, while a summary of the number of observed values does give some information about the data, it does not capture the notion of frequency across a range of values. Organizing data into categories is a part of what a frequency distribution does but doesn’t encompass the full definition, as it's specifically focused on how often each value occurs. A display of average values addresses a different aspect of data (central tendency) and does not consider the frequency of each individual value. Therefore, the correct definition accurately emphasizes the concept of occurrence, which is central to understanding frequency distributions.