Step by step
The question
Question: draw a dot plot of 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 11, 12 and 14.
Which value is the most common?
1 Draw the number line
The number line goes from the smallest number, 10, to the biggest, 14.
2 Put the dots
The first number is 10.
We cross it out, and put a dot over 10.
Next is 11: a dot over 11.
Another 11: its dot goes on top of the first one.
Every number is crossed out, so every number has its dot.
3 Read the plot
The tallest stack is over 11.
It has 3 dots.
Careful!
The mode is the number under the tallest stack, 11.
Not how many dots it has.
So the most common value, the mode, is 11.
4 Check
Let's check in the list: 11 comes 3 times.
No number comes more often.
So it is right!
Let's look back.
First: draw the number line.
Then: put the dots.
Then: read the plot.
Last: check.