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Year 11
Higher

Constructing histograms and box plots using technology

I can construct histograms and box plots utilising technology.

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New
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Year 11
Higher

Constructing histograms and box plots using technology

I can construct histograms and box plots utilising technology.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Histograms can be drawn quickly using technology
  2. Using the raw data allows software to calculate equal bin widths easily
  3. Box plots can be drawn using the same data to allow comparison
  4. You can compare the shape of the histogram to its box plot

Keywords

  • Histogram - A histogram is a diagram consisting of rectangles whose area is proportional to the frequency in each class and whose width is equal to the class interval.

  • Box plot - A box plot is a diagram that clearly shows the minimum and maximum value of a data set along with the three quartiles.

Common misconception

When using Desmos, incorrect brackets () are used to input raw data as elements.

[] are used to denote a set of data elements or elements. Encourage pupils to think about set notation when using Venn diagrams. Desmos will reject the use of () as they do not denote a set of elements.

Statistics can be fun. A fun task is to collect the time it takes pupils to say the alphabet. Collect all the times using peer groups and represent in Desmos as a box plot or histogram. Data can be grouped or in raw form. Compare distributions.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are graphical displays of discrete data only?
Correct answer: Bar chart
Correct answer: Tally chart
Correct answer: Pictogram
Histogram
Q2.
What are the benefits when using software to draw graphical representations of large data sets?
Correct answer: It is quick.
Correct answer: You are less likely to make mistakes.
Correct answer: It gives a clear representation.
It takes a lot of time to input the data.
Q3.
Which of the following sets of brackets with a comma are used to show a data set?
{}
Correct answer: []
()
Q4.
When we have continuous data with equal class intervals...
...it is convention to draw the histogram against frequency density.
Correct answer: ...it is convention to draw the histogram against frequency.
...it is convention to draw the histogram bars with gaps.
Q5.
When we have continuous data with unequal class intervals:
Correct answer: The histogram is plotted against the frequency density to show the distribution.
The histogram is plotted against the frequency to show the distribution.
The histogram will have gaps between each bar.
Correct answer: The histogram will not have gaps between each bar, unless the frequency = 0.
Q6.
Which of the following are illustrated in a box plot?
Correct answer: Minimum value
Correct answer: Maximum value
Correct answer: Three quartiles
The estimate mean
The exact mean

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the "bin width" when using Desmos to draw a histogram?
The number of values in the data set
The interval size on the $$y$$-axis
Correct answer: The width of the class interval
The height of the class interval
Q2.
An Oak pupil inserts some data into Desmos and writes A=(1,2,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,4,4). Desmos does not recognise this as a set of data. Select the reason why.
There needs to be a space in-between each comma.
Correct answer: [] should be used to represent a set of data elements.
{} should be used to represent a set of data elements.
Q3.
When correcting the histogram, it is important to chose the correct bin alignment.
Correct answer: Select the bin alignment to LEFT.
Select the bin alignment to CENTRE.
Delete the bin alignment
Q4.
Which icons will allow you to see the graph once the data has been inputted and a graphical display chosen?
Correct answer: Spanner
Correct answer: Magnifying glass
Count
Relative
Left
Q5.
When drawing a box plot, what does "offset" do to the box plot?
The offset moves the box plot away from the $$y$$ axis.
Correct answer: The offset moves the box plot away from the $$x$$ axis.
Changes the height of the IQR.
Changes the lengths of the lines.
Q6.
To change the position of the box plot, you should change...
...the value of the height.
Correct answer: ...the value of the offset.
...the $$y$$-axis.