Table of contents

1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data55m
2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs1h 55m
3. Describing Data Numerically1h 45m
4. Probability2h 16m
5. Binomial Distribution & Discrete Random Variables2h 33m
6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables1h 38m
7. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Mean1h 53m
8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion1h 12m
- Sampling Distribution of Sample Proportion
  29m
- Confidence Intervals for Population Proportion
  42m
9. Hypothesis Testing for One Sample2h 19m
10. Hypothesis Testing for Two Samples3h 22m
11. Correlation1h 6m
12. Regression1h 4m
13. Chi-Square Tests & Goodness of Fit1h 20m
14. ANOVA1h 0m

2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs

Dot Plots

Statistics

2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs

Dot Plots

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3:12 minutes

Problem 2.2.24

Textbook Question

Graphing Data Sets In Exercises 17–32, organize the data using the indicated type of graph. Describe any patterns.

Life Spans of Houseflies Use a dot plot to display the data, which represent the life spans (in days) of 30 houseflies.
9 9 4 11 10 5 13 9 7 11 6 8 14 10 6
10 10 7 14 11 7 8 6 13 10 14 14 8 13 10

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the problem. You are tasked with creating a dot plot to display the life spans (in days) of 30 houseflies. A dot plot is a simple graphical representation where each data point is represented by a dot above its corresponding value on a number line.

Step 2: Organize the data. Start by listing the data values in ascending order: 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14, 14.

Step 3: Draw a horizontal number line. Label the number line with the range of values in the data set, which is from 4 to 14. Ensure the scale is evenly spaced and includes all integers within this range.

Step 4: Plot the data. For each value in the data set, place a dot above the corresponding number on the number line. If a value appears multiple times, stack the dots vertically above that number to represent the frequency of that value.

Step 5: Analyze the dot plot. Look for patterns, such as clusters, gaps, or peaks. For example, you might observe that the most frequent life span is 10 days, and there is a cluster of values between 10 and 14 days. Describe these patterns in your analysis.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Dot Plot

A dot plot is a simple graphical display used to represent individual data points in a dataset. Each value is represented by a dot above a number line, allowing for easy visualization of frequency and distribution. This type of graph is particularly useful for small datasets, as it clearly shows the occurrence of each value and helps identify patterns or clusters in the data.

Data Distribution

Data distribution refers to the way in which data values are spread or arranged across a range. Understanding the distribution helps in identifying patterns such as central tendency, variability, and the presence of outliers. In the context of the life spans of houseflies, analyzing the distribution can reveal insights about the typical lifespan and any variations among the flies.

Patterns in Data

Patterns in data refer to recognizable trends or regularities that emerge when data is visualized. These can include clusters, gaps, or overall shapes in the graph. Identifying patterns is crucial for drawing conclusions and making predictions based on the data, as it helps to understand the underlying characteristics of the dataset, such as common life spans among houseflies.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Putting Graphs in Context In Exercises 5–8, match the plot with the description of the sample.

a. Times (in minutes) it takes a sample of employees to drive to work

b. Grade point averages of a sample of students with finance majors

c. Top speeds (in miles per hour) of a sample of high-performance sports cars

d. Ages (in years) of a sample of residents of a retirement home

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Textbook Question

Graphical Analysis In Exercises 9–12, use the stem-and-leaf plot or dot plot to list the actual data entries. What is the maximum data entry? What is the minimum data entry?

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Multiple Choice

The dotplot below shows the number of books read in a month by students in a college class. Find the most and least frequent number of books read.

Multiple Choice

Compare the two dotplots, which give the number of siblings students have in Class A and Class B. Which class has more students with 2 siblings?

Textbook Question

Phone Screen Sizes Display the data below in a dot plot. Describe the differences in how the stem-and-leaf plot and the dot plot show patterns in the data.

Textbook Question

The heights (in feet) and the number of stories of the ten tallest buildings in New York City are listed. Use a scatter plot to display the data. Describe any patterns. (Source: Emporis)

Textbook Question

The data set represents the number of minutes a sample of 27 people exercise each week.

108 139 120 123 120 132 123 131 131

157 150 124 111 101 135 119 116 117

127 128 139 119 118 114 127 142 130

g. Display the data using a box-and-whisker plot.

Textbook Question

Putting Graphs in Context In Exercises 5–8, match the plot with the description of the sample.

a. Times (in minutes) it takes a sample of employees to drive to work

b. Grade point averages of a sample of students with finance majors

c. Top speeds (in miles per hour) of a sample of high-performance sports cars

d. Ages (in years) of a sample of residents of a retirement home