Which of the following best describes a histogram?

A histogram is a graphical representation that illustrates the distribution of numerical data using bars. Each bar in a histogram represents the frequency of data points within certain ranges, known as bins. The height of each bar indicates the number of observations that fall within each interval, providing a visual interpretation of how the data is distributed across the entire range of values.

This visual tool is particularly useful for identifying the shape of the data distribution, such as whether it is symmetrical, skewed, or has outliers. By using bars to represent frequencies, histograms allow for easy comparison of different groups within the data, making them an effective method for presenting large amounts of numerical information.

In contrast, the other options describe different types of data presentations. For example, a table showing average values reflects summary statistics rather than the distribution of data. A summary of mean and median values also pertains to descriptive statistics but does not visualize data distribution. Meanwhile, a type of frequency distribution that uses dots refers to a dot plot, which is a different method of displaying data. Thus, the choice that captures the essence of a histogram accurately is the one focused on graphical representation through bars.