Finite Math and Elementary Calculus
Quarter 4 Project
DATA EXPLORATION
“Did Mr. Starnes Stack His Class?”
Mr. Starnes and Ms. McGrail both teach Precalculus at Spring Hill High School. Their teacher
evaluations are based on their students’ scores on a standardized cumulative math test given at the
end of the year. Mr. Starnes also does the class scheduling for the high school. There are two
Precalculus classes, one taught by Mr. Starnes and one taught by Ms. McGrail. The two teachers
give the same first test to their classes and grade the test together. Mr. Starnes’s students
earned an average score that was 8 points higher than the average for Ms. McGrail’s class. Ms.
McGrail wonders whether Mr. Starnes might have “adjusted” the class rosters from the computer
scheduling program. In other words, she thinks he might have “stacked” his class. He denies this,
of course.
To help resolve the dispute, the teachers collect data on the cumulative grade point averages and
SAT Math scores of their students. Mr. Starnes provides the GPA data from his computer. The
students report their SAT Math scores. The tables below show the data for each student in the
two classes. Note that the two data values in each row come from a single student.
Did Mr. Starnes stack his class? Give appropriate graphical and numerical evidence to support your
conclusion.
Your project will be graded based on the following criteria:
 Accurately uses two graphical methods of comparison (histograms and box-andwhiskers plots).
NOTE:
 Comparative boxplots should be shown on the same graph so comparison can be
made.
 Use boxplot option on calculator that shows outliers!
 Gives numerical evidence to support conclusion (uses ranges, five-point summaries,
means, IQR and standard deviations to compare data).
 Thoroughly and accurately gives justification for conclusion, using the vocabulary of
statistics found in Chapter 6.
See rubric on the following page!!
Your grade on the project will count as a test grade.
Due Date: Monday, May 4
Finite Math and Elementary Calculus
Quarter 4 Project
“Did Mr. Starnes Stack His Class?”
SCORING RUBRIC
Criteria
Points Possible
Accurately Uses Two Graphical Methods of Comparison
Histograms
 Starnes GPA Histogram
 McGrail GPA Histogram
 Starnes SAT-M Histogram
 McGrail SAT-M Histogram
5
5
5
5
Boxplots
 Starnes GPA Boxplot
 McGrail GPA Boxplot
 Starnes SAT-M Boxplot
 McGrail SAT-M Boxplot
 Comparative Boxplots on Same Set of Axes
5
5
5
5
4
Gives Numerical Evidence to Support Conclusion
Ranges
 Starnes GPA Range
 McGrail GPA Range
 Starnes SAT-M Range
 McGrail SAT-M Range
2
2
2
2
Five-Point Summaries
 Starnes GPA 5-point summary and IQR
 McGrail GPA 5-point summary and IQR
 Starnes SAT-M 5-point summary and IQR
 McGrail SAT-M 5-point summary and IQR
6
6
6
6
Means
 Starnes GPA Mean
 McGrail GPA Mean
 Starnes SAT-M Mean
 McGrail SAT-M Mean
Standard Deviations
 Starnes GPA Standard Deviation
 McGrail GPA Standard Deviation
 Starnes SAT-M Standard Deviation
 McGrail SAT-M Standard Deviation
Thoroughly and Accurately Gives Justification for
Conclusion, Using the Vocabulary of Statistics
Total Points
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
16
100
Points Earned