IM 6.8.6 Lesson: Interpreting Histograms
Here is a dot plot showing the weights, in pounds, of 40 dogs at a dog show.
Write two statistical questions that can be answered using the dot plot.
What would you consider a typical weight for a dog at this dog show? Explain your reasoning.
Here is a histogram that shows some dog weights in pounds. Use the histogram to answer the following questions.
Each bar includes the left-end value but not the right-end value. For example, the first bar includes dogs that weigh 60 pounds and 68 pounds but not 80 pounds.
How many dogs weigh at least 100 pounds?
How many dogs weigh at least 70 pounds?
How many dogs weigh at least 120 pounds and less than 160 pounds?
How much does the heaviest dog at the show weigh?
What would you consider a typical weight for a dog at this dog show? Explain your reasoning.
Discuss with a partner:
If you used the dot plot to answer the same five questions you just answered, how would your answers be different?
How are the histogram and the dot plot alike? How are they different?
Every ten years, the United States conducts a census, which is an effort to count the entire population. The dot plot shows the population data from the 2010 census for each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia (DC).
Here are some statistical questions about the population of the fifty states and DC. How difficult would it be to answer the questions using the dot plot?
In the middle column, rate each question with an E (easy to answer), H (hard to answer), or I (impossible to answer). Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Here are the population data for all states and the District of Columbia from the 2010 census. Use the information to complete the table.
Use the information above to complete the table.
Use the grid and the information in your table to create a histogram.
Return to the statistical questions at the beginning of the activity. Which ones are now easier to answer? In the last column of the table, rate each question with an E (easy), H (hard), and I (impossible) based on how difficult it is to answer them. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Think of two more statistical questions that can be answered using the data about populations of states. Then, decide whether each question can be answered using the dot plot, the histogram, or both.