Lesson 2.1Dot Plots and Shape
Start hereWords, worked example, and sentence starters
Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question.
Start hereWords for this lesson
Read each word before you begin. Say it out loud.
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical QuestionSpanish: Pregunta estadística | A question answered with data that are expected to vary. | “How tall are the players on the team?” → answers vary: 60 in, 63 in, 58 in, 65 in |
| Non-statistical QuestionSpanish: Pregunta no estadística | A question that does not anticipate variability in the data used to answer it. It may ask for one fact or measurement. | “How tall am I?” → one answer: 60 in. Everyone who measures gets the same number. |
| DataSpanish: Datos | Facts and numbers you collect, like answers to a survey. | Player heights: 60 in, 63 in, 58 in, 65 in — four different measurements |
| VariabilitySpanish: Variabilidad | How spread out the numbers are. | Scores 10, 12, 11 are close together (low variability); scores 2, 15, 30 are far apart (high variability) |
| SurveySpanish: Encuesta | Collecting facts by asking people questions. | Asking 50 students 'What is your favorite sport?' and recording the answers |
| Data distributionSpanish: Distribución de datos | How the data looks: where it sits and how spread out it is. | Most dots near the middle |
How it worksWorked examplebuilding a dot plot and reading it
These numbers are not on your problems. The steps are. Follow them with your own numbers.
Twelve students named how many books they finished: 0, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 0, 2.
- Draw a number line from 0 to 4 and label every whole number.
- Stack one dot above a value for each student who gave that answer.
- The tallest stack sits above 2, so 2 is the most common answer.
- The line runs from the least value, 0, to the greatest value, 4.
Answer: The plot has one dot per student; 2 books is most common and the values run from 0 to 4.
Now you trySame steps, your turn
The steps are the same as the worked example. The numbers are yours. Do the work.
Ten students named how many apps they added last week: 0, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 4, 1, 2, 0.
- Draw a number line from to and label each whole number.
- Stack dot for every student who gave that answer.
- The tallest stack is above , so that is the most common answer.
- Least value: Greatest value:
Say it and write itSentence starters
Finish each sentence out loud with a partner. Then use them in your writing.
- Each dot on my plot stands for .
- The most common value is because .
- The values run from to .
- The shape is because the two sides .
Word bank dot plotnumber linestackmost commonleastgreatestshapesymmetricdistributionspreaddatavalue
Watch outA common mistake
A common mistake in Statistical Questions and Data is judging a question by its topic or its numbers instead of its variability. Students see a question about ONE player, ONE game, or ONE fixed fact — like "How many points does the team need to win a game?" — and call it statistical just because it has a number or is about sports. Or they see a question about a single player's whole season, like "How many touchdowns did the quarterback throw this season?", and call it NOT statistical because only one player is named, forgetting that a season covers many games with a different result each time. Both errors skip the real test: will the answers actually differ from case to case (game to game, player to player)? If yes, it is a statistical question; if there is one fixed answer, it is not.
Lesson 2.1Dot Plots and Shape
Apply Day · Version ASupported practice
Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question.
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1Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "What is each student's favorite fruit?" Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Will every student say the same fruit?
Final answer: -
2Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How many wheels does a bike have?" Type yes or no.
Show your workHint How many different answers can this question have?
Final answer: -
3Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How many letters are in each student's first name?" Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Think of names you know. Do they all have the same number of letters?
Final answer:
Lesson 2.1Dot Plots and Shape
Apply Day · Version BCore practice
Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question.
-
1Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Leo says "How many days are in March?" is a statistical question because March has many days. Is Leo right? Type yes or no.
Show your workFinal answer: -
2Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How many minutes does Lena take to get dressed each morning?" Type yes or no.
Show your workFinal answer: -
3Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How many brothers and sisters does each student in our class have?" Type yes or no.
Show your workFinal answer:
Lesson 2.1Dot Plots and Shape
Apply Day · ChallengeExtension
Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question.
-
1Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.
Which question is a STATISTICAL question?
- AHow many minutes did I sleep last night?
- BHow many students are in our class?
- CWhat time does school start?
- DHow many minutes did each student in our class sleep last night?
Show your work -
2Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Raj says "How many students are in our class?" is statistical because it is about many students. Is Raj right? Type yes or no.
Show your workFinal answer: -
3Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How many text messages does Omar send each day this month?" Type yes or no.
Show your workFinal answer: