Comparing Dot Plots
Skill:
Compare data and distributions of data, numerical and contextual, to draw conclusions, considering the measures of center and measures of variability.
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Comparing Dot Plots
Observe how variations in characteristics of data sets affect the shape of dot plots.
Putting It All Together
Answer these open ended questions on your own or with others to form deeper math connections.
Open-ended question 1
Modify the second data set and consider whether one center of distribution (one of the means) is much higher than the other, or if the centers (the means) are close together. How do the centers of distribution compare across the data sets of the dot plots in the following cases? a) The difference in the means is less than 2 MADs b) The difference in the means is more than 2 MADs
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Open-ended question 2
Modify the second data set so that the ranges of the dot plots are very different. Describe in your own words how the ranges compare with one another.
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Open-ended question 3
How do the variabilities of the two dot plots compare in the following cases? a) The MAD of the original data set is higher b) The MAD of the modified data set is higher c) The MADs are close together
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Open-ended question 4
a) Modify the maximum of the second data set without changing the mean. How would you describe the difference between the two data sets? b) Modify the maximum without changing the MAD. Compare the data sets in your own words again.
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Open-ended question 5
Imagine that the dot plots represent the heights of flowers in a garden bed. a) How would you label the two different number lines? b) What would a higher MAD mean for a population of flowers?
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Open-ended question 6
What other populations of people or things could the dot plots represent? How could you describe a comparison of the two populations?
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Prerequisite Resources
