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New Zealand
Level 6 - NCEA Level 1

Recognising the shape of data

Lesson

Symmetry

Data may be described as symmetrical or asymmetrical

The normal distribution is the most common example of symmetrical data. The normal distribution looks like this:

The '0' point right in the middle of the distribution represents the mean, the median and the mode- all these measures of central tendency are equal. If we use that '0' line as our axis of symmetry, do you notice how the left hand side is a perfect reflection of the right hand side? That means it's symmetrical.

If your data is asymmetrical (ie. it isn't symmetrical), it may be described as skewed.

 

Skew

Positive skew

A positive skew means that the majority of the scores are low and the long tail is on the positive side of the peak of the graph. It is also sometimes called a right skew. This means the mean is greater than the median, which is greater than the mode.

MODE < MEDIAN < MEAN

A positively skewed graph looks something like this.

Notice how most of the scores are in the lower half of the graph?

 

Negative Skew

A negative skew means that the majority of the scores are high and the long tail is on the negative side of the peak. It is also sometimes called a left skew. This means the mode is greater than the median, which is greater than the mean.

MEAN < MEDIAN < MODE

A negatively skewed graph looks something like this.

Notice how most of the scores are in the higher half of the graph?

 

Worked Examples

Question 1

How many peaks are there on the graph?

  1. $\editable{}$ peaks

QUESTION 2

The table shows the number of crime novels in a bookshop for different price ranges.

Price of crime novel to nearest $\$5$$5 Frequency
$5$5 $5$5
$10$10 $10$10
$15$15 $17$17
$20$20 $8$8
$25$25 $17$17
$30$30 $10$10
$35$35 $5$5
  1. Plot this data as a histogram.

    Novel GenresPrice Frequency51015205101520253035

  2. Which of the following best describes the data in the graph and table?

    Symmetrical

    A

    Right skewed

    B

    Left skewed

    C

    Uniform distribution

    D

QUESTION 3

What type of skew is shown in the graph below?

HistogramScoreFrequency51015678910111213

  1. No skew

    A

    Right skew

    B

    Left skew

    C

 

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

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