This shows histograms of dataset with approximately 80 observations, where we have varied the number of classes between 6 and 20 classes. Notice that the
same general shape is clear in all of them. This illustrates that the exact number of classes chosen to make a histogram is not crucial in being able to visualize
the shape of the distribution. Applet and data set from Moore and McCabe’s Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
6 classes
8 classes
11 classes
14 classes
17 classes
20 classes
This shows histograms of dataset with approximately 80 observations, where we have varied the number of classes between 6 and 20 classes. Notice that the
same general shape is clear in all of them. This illustrates that the exact number of classes chosen to make a histogram is not crucial in being able to visualize
the shape of the distribution. Applet and data set from Moore and McCabe’s Introduction to the Practice of Statistics
BAD choices of the number of classes:
1 class BAD choice!!
1000 classes Not a useful choice