Statistical Variability

Which of the following questions would have no variability?

• What time was sunrise this morning?

• How much does a puppy weigh?

• How many teeth fall out with your seven years old?

• What is your favorite color?

Which of the following questions would result in the least amount of variablity?

• What is the price of milk?

• Who is the President of the United States?

• Who is your favorite singer?

• What toppings do you like on your pizza?

The heights, in feet, of random samples of trees from three forests are shown. Move each measure into the table to identify which forest is expected to have the greatest measure of center and which forest is expected to have the greatest measure of variability based on the samples.

a

b

c

greatest variability

greatest measure of center

-

The best description of the data is ​ ​ (a)   . ​ The most appropriate measure of center is the​ ​ (b)   . The most appropriate measure of variability is the ​ ​ (c)   .

• range

• mean

• skewed left

• mean

• range

• skewed right

• symmetric

• symmetric with an outlier

The best description of the data is ​ ​ (a)   . ​ ​ The most appropriate measure of center is the​ ​ (b)   . The most appropriate measure of variability is the ​ ​ (c)   .

• range

• mean

• skewed left

• median

• IQR

• skewed right

• symmetric

• symmetric with an outlier

The heights, in feet, of random samples of trees from three forests are shown. Move each measure into the table to identify which forest is expected to have the greatest measure of center and which forest is expected to have the greatest measure of variability based on the samples.

a

b

c

greatest variability

-

greatest measure of center

The best description of the data is ​ (a)   . ​ ​ The most appropriate measure of center is the​ (b)   . The most appropriate measure of variability is the ​ (c)   .

• range

• mean

• IQR

• median

• skewed right

• symmetric

• symmetric with an outlier

• skewed left

The best description of the data is ​ (a)   . ​ ​ The most appropriate measure of center is the​ (b)   . The most appropriate measure of variability is the ​ (c)   .

• range

• mean

• IQR

• median

• skewed right

• symmetric

• symmetric with an outlier

• skewed left

Which situation would yield data that varies?

• The sport 6th graders most enjoy playing

• The number of students who played football last season

• The sport which had the largest student attendance at one game

What is the mode of 4, 4, 2, 6, 9, 2, 4?

• 9

• 4

• 6

• 2