As a market analyst, you are asked to examine the price-earnings (P/E) ratio (stock share cost divided by annual earnings per share) for a random sample of companies.

Which of the following would be the most appropriate next step?

a) Calculate the median P/E ratio for the sample.
b) Calculate the mean P/E ratio for the sample.
c) Calculate the range of P/E ratios for the sample.
d) Calculate the standard deviation of the P/E ratios for the sample.