Dot Plots, FATHOM and Describing Distributions
Statistical Terminology for Describing Distributions
CENTER
the approximate mean (average) or median (middle number in
the ordered data set) of the data
Note: In each dotplot, one dot represents one count of the variable being measured.
Which class performed the
best?
.
Test Score
SHAPE
measures trends in the data
Skewed Right
Tail of Distribution to the Right
Symmetric
Skewed Left
Tail of Distribution to the Left
Age
Bimodal
Two “modes” or centers
Test Score
Uniform
(special type of symmetric distribution)
All possibilities have approximately the same frequency
Dot Plots, FATHOM and Describing Distributions
SPREAD:
Measures the variability of the data
Which class had the least variability in test scores?
.
Which class had the most variability in test scores?
.
Range:
Test Score
OUTLIERS
point(s) far away from the rest of the data
Describing Distributions: Describe Center, Shape, Spread
Dot Plots, FATHOM and Describing Distributions
1.) Create a dot plot of Number of First Cousins, paste the graph below
and then describe the distribution.
2.) Create a dot plot of Number of Extra-Curricular Activities, paste the
graph below and then describe the distribution.
3.) Create a dot plot of Height in Inches, paste the graph below and then
describe the distribution.
4.) Create a dot plot of Minutes of Exercise, paste the graph below and
then describe the distribution.
5.) Create a dot plot of Number of States Visited, paste the graph below
and then describe the distribution.
Dot Plots, FATHOM and Describing Distributions
6.) Display a dot plot to a compare the age of your mother when you were
born with the age of your father when you were born. Comment on
the similarities and the differences between the two distributions.