Describe the data 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5 Step by Step

Step by step

The question

Question: describe the data 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5: its center, its spread and its shape.

1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5

1 Draw a dot plot

A number line from 1 to 5.

One dot for each number.

1 first.

And so on.

2 Find the center

There are 7 numbers.

We count in from both ends to the middle one: number 4.

= 7 numbers: middle = number 4

On the dot plot, that is 2.

The median is the center.

= center: median = 2

Careful!

The tallest stack is 1.

But the center is the middle value, 2.

Careful: the center is the middle value, not the tallest stack

3 Find the spread

The spread: biggest minus smallest.

5 minus 1 is 4.

= spread: range = 5 − 1 = 4

4 Describe the shape

The tallest stack, the peak, is at 1.

One peak, at 1.

No dots at 4: a gap.

Most dots are on the left.

A few spread out to the right: a tail to the right.

= shape: peak at 1, gap at 4, tail to the right

5 Check

Let's check: we count the dots.

7 dots for 7 numbers.

Every number is crossed out.

So the dot plot is right, and so is the answer!

7 dots, 7 numbers

Let's look back.

First: draw a dot plot.

Then: find the center.

Then: find the spread.

Then: describe the shape.

Last: check.

Answer