Pictographs, bar charts, and pie charts

Week 3: September 8

MATH 317/ELMA 517 ~ Probability and Statistics for Teachers ~ Fall 2003


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Class meeting schedule and topics

Monday, September 8 ~ Categorizing data, bar charts, and pie charts
Monday, September 15 ~ Line plots, dot plots, and stem plots

Homework Assignments

  1. Due Monday, September 15

    Required work

    1. Read Book 1 Sections 2 & 6 and Book 2 Section 3

    2. Find at least one example of a bar graph and at least one example of a pie chart in newspapers, magazines, or in electronic news publications. For each graph:

      1. Describe the purpose of the graph. That is, what story does the graph tell?
      2. Describe the strongest features of the graph.
      3. List ways in which the graph could be improved.
      4. If the graph is a bar graph, construct the corresponding pie chart. If the graph is a pie chart, construct the corresponding bar graph.

    3. Find or collect a dataset containing at least one categorical variable. Construct a frequency table, a bar chart, and a pie chart for your data. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Write a paragraph describing the story the table and graphs tell.

    Optional work

    • Repeat parts (b) or (c) above by hand or using technology.

  2. Due Monday, September 22

    Required work

    1. Read Book 2 Sections 3 and 4

    2. Find or collect a dataset containing at least one numeric variable. Construct a dot plot and a stem plot for your data. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Write a paragraph describing the story the graphs tell.

    3. Find or collect a dataset containing at least one categorical variable and at least one numeric variable. That is, the dataset should allow for the comparison of a numeric variable across two categorical groups. Construct side-by-side dot plots and back-to-back stem plots for your data. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Write a paragraph describing the story the graphs tell.

    Optional work

    • Repeat exercises (b) or (c) above by hand or using technology.


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