Dot plot of 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 6, 7

Step by step

The question

Question: draw a dot plot of 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 6 and 7.

Which value is the most common?

1 Draw the number line

The number line goes from the smallest number, 5, to the biggest, 8.

2 Put the dots

The first number is 5.

We cross it out, and put a dot over 5.

Next is 6: a dot over 6.

Another 6: 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 6.

It has 3 dots.

Careful!

The mode is the number under the tallest stack, 6.

Not how many dots it has.

So the most common value, the mode, is 6.

4 Check

Let's check in the list: 6 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.