Recognising the spread of data

Lesson

Practice

Lesson

We've already learnt about the range, which is a measure of spread in a data set. Once we are able to calculate the range in a data set, we can start to compare and make judgments about different data sets and potentially spot any outliers.

Now let's compare the spread of some data sets and graphs.

Worked Examples

Question 1

Look at the data sets below. Which data set has the largest range?

$101,105,118,129,136$101,105,118,129,136
A
$19,23,25,28,29$19,23,25,28,29
B
$22,25,43,64$22,25,43,64
C
$104,107,113,120,125$104,107,113,120,125
D

QUESTION 2

Do the dot plots shown have the same range?

Yes
A
No
B

Outcomes

S6-1

Plan and conduct investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle: A justifying the variables and measures used B managing sources of variation, including through the use of random sampling C identifying and communicating features in context (trends, relationships between variables, and differences within and between distributions), using multiple displays D making informal inferences about populations from sample data E justifying findings, using displays and measures.

91035

Investigate a given multivariate data set using the statistical enquiry cycle