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Dot plot of 10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 11, 12, 14

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Bar charts and dot plots · Statistics

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?

10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 11, 12, 14

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.

Careful: not mode = 3 ✗

So the most common value, the mode, is 11.

= mode = 11

4 Check

Let's check in the list: 11 comes 3 times.

No number comes more often.

So it is right!

11 comes 3 times

Let's look back.

First: draw the number line.

Then: put the dots.

Then: read the plot.

Last: check.

Answer
= mode = 11

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Dot plot of 13, 13, 11, 10, 10, 11, 9, 10. Which value is the most common?
Show the answer
mode = 10

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