Question

A group of 12 students participated in a dance competition. Their scores are below:


Score (points) 1 2 3 4 5
Number of Students 1 2 4 3 2


Would a dot plot or a histogram best represent the data presented here? Why?
Histogram, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges
Histogram, because a small number of scores are reported individually
Dot plot, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges
Dot plot, because a small number of scores are reported individually

Answer 1

1) The word "best" is incorrect. There are only two options and the terminology is vague, anyway. s/b "Better".
2) No score is reported as a range. Throw out anything that says "reported as ranges".
3) Typically, and histogram would be used to summarize a large amount of data.

Go!

Answer 2

Based on that....b

Answer 3

Do you have a large number of data points?

Answer 4

? what do you mean @tkhunny

Answer 5

After throwing out A and C, we are left with these two choices...

Histogram, because a small number of scores are reported individually
Dot plot, because a small number of scores are reported individually

There is NOTHING in the problem statement that tells us which might be correct. The ONLY thing we have to go on is general knowledge of histograms and dot plots. Some of that general knowledge can be suggested by the phrase already offered in #3 of my first post.

How can you apply this information (#3) to decide between the two remaining offerings.

Answer 6

well in #3 of your post you said histograms were better so we are obviously left with that chocice b histograms right? @tkhunny

Answer 7

In #3, I made no statement concerning "better". How did you get that?

#3 says histograms typically are useful for summarizing a LARGE amount of data.

Do we have a LARGE amount of data?

Answer 8

no

Answer 9

@misty1212

Answer 10

@misty1212

Answer 11

i totally don't do statistics, but common sense tells me D

Answer 12

ok ty :)

Answer 13

That's the thing about "common sense", it is very selective and self-promoting. However, if we go with the actual facts, that a tiny amount of data probably is not appropriate for a histogram, we come to the same conclusion.

@help_people You will be required to do better than this. I know you think you are "making sure" or "just checking", but that attitude will not help you on an exam or in real life. You MUST develop the confidence to put together the right pieces and make the right decisions.

Answer with confidence - having examined all the facts!

Answer 14

ok thank you for everything :)