Representing Data with Dot Plots

Labelling

Aiden surveyed some classmates to find out what kind of pets they have. He listed the following responses:

dog, none, dog, cat, none, fish, cat, fish, hamster, none, dog, cat, cat, cat, none

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Dog

None

Fish

Cat

Hamster

Represents statistical data consisting of numbers.

Numerical

Represents statistical data consisting of categories, types or groups.

Categorical

​A Dot Plot is a graph that can be used to represent numerical or categorical data.

Open Ended

A survey of a sixth-grade classroom asked students how many movies they have seen in the last month and the genre of each movie. The data is shown in the frequency table.

Which information represents numerical data? 

Which information represents categorical data?

How do you know?

A Dot Plot or other graphical representation of data helps to organize information in a way that it can be analyzed and inferences can be made.

• Analysis: Only 1 family has 6 children

• Analysis: More families have 1 child than any other amount

• Inference: People in this area prefer to have small families

Open Ended

What conclusions can you draw from the dot plot? (Give at least TWO)

Open Ended

What conclusions can you draw from the dot plot? (Give at least TWO)

We can use the data on a dot plot to draw conclusions about the Center (which represents where MOST of the data is clustered/grouped together) and the Spread (which represents how far apart the data is).

Work with your group to analyze the 6th and 7th grade height data. Remember, the number line represents the heights and each dot represents an individual student.

Based on the dot plot, how do the 6th grade heights compare to the 7th grade heights?

Poll

Complete your Independent Practice Worksheet. When finished, rank your understanding of how to analyze the Center (which represents where MOST of the data is clustered/grouped together) and Spread (which represents how far apart the data is) of a dot (line) plot.

• Completely confused

• I understand a little

• I understand most of it

• I got this!

Open Ended

How did the graphical representation of the data help you answer the questions more easily?