Section 2.2

Integration: Statistics

Line Plots

 

 


What you should learn

To interpret numerical data from a table

To display and interpret statistical data on a line plot

NCTM Curriculm Standards 5 - 10

 

In doing this the teacher wants to make sure that the following words are incorporated into the introductory lesson:

Line Plot

 

 

 

Introduction: Are you a fan of sitcoms? Media ratings are used to determine which shows are not. They are also used to determine which shows should be continued or canceled. The chart below shows the media ratings for a Monday evening.

 

 Monday (Media Ratings)
TIME  PROGRAM 

 VIEWERS

(rounded to nearest million)

8:00 

Sitcom

Drama

Sitcom

Sports

News Show 

 22

19

14

15

14

8:30 

 Sitcom

Sitcom

Drama

 21

19

16

 9:00

 Movie

Drama

News Show

Commentary

 22

19

10

5

9:30 

 Sitcom

Game Show

 19

4

 10:00 Drama   19

 

In some cases, data can be presented on a number line. Numerical data displayed on a number line is called a line plot. The data in the table above can be presented in a line plot as follows.

Step 1: Draw and label a number line. You can see that the data in the table ranges from 4 million to 22 million viewers. In order to represent the data on a number line, a scale must be used that included this range of values. You can use a scale from 0 to 25 with intervals of five.

Step 2: Draw the line plot. Write a "v" for each TV show above its share of viewers. A completed line plot for the media ratiings is shown below.

 

 

 

Exercise 1: The table below shows the final standings for each of the 29 professional basketball teams for hte 1998 - 1999 season.

Final Regular-Season Standings
 Eastern Conference  

 ATLANTIC - WINS AND LOSSES

y - Miami - 33 and 17

x - Orlando - 33 and 17

x - Philadelphia - 28 and 22

x - New York - 27 and 23

Boston - 19 and 31

Washington - 18 and 32

New Jersey - 16 and 34

CENTRAL - WINS AND LOSSES

y - Indiana - 33 and 17

x - Atlanta - 31 and 19

x - Detroit - 29 and 21

x - Milwaukee - 28 and 22

Charlotte - 26 and 24

Toronto - 23 and 27

Cleveland - 22 and 28

Chicago - 13 and 37

 MIDWEST - WINS AND LOSSES

y - San Antionio - 37 and 13

x - Utah - 37 and 13

x - Houston - 31 and 19

x - Minnestota - 25 and 25

Dallas - 19 and 31

Denver - 14 and 36

Vancouver - 8 and 42

PACIFIC - WINS AND LOSSES

y - Portland - 35 and 15

x - LA Lakers - 31 and 19

x - Sacramento - 27 and 23

x - Phoenix - 27 and 23

Seattle - 25 and 25

Golden State - 21 and 29

LA Clippers - 9 and 41

x - clinched playoff berth; y - clinched Division Title

a. Make a line plot to show the number of wins by each playoff team.

b. How many playoff teams won fewer than 30 games?

c. Whihc playoff team had the best record? The worst record?

d. How many teams made the playoffs?

 

 

The data in the application at the beginning of the lesosn was the result of a survey. The data in the example was collected by checking NBA records. Data can be collected by taking actual measurements, by conducting surveys or polls, by using questionnaires, by simulation, or by consulting reference materials.

 

It is important taht you know how the data were obtained. For example, would you want to draw conclusions about changing the name of your school mascot based on a result of a survey of seniors only? Why or why not?

 

 

 

Activity: Modeling Mathematics: Line Plots

Materials: small packages of plain colored candy

A candy company conducted surveys to determine whether a new color should be added. The choices were blue, pink, purple, or leave them as they are. The color blue was chosen.

Your Turn

a. Open a package of candy. Separate the candies by color. Find the total number of each color.

b. Make a line plot to show the number of each color. Use b for brown, r for red, y for yellow, o for orange, g for green, and bl for blue.

c. Do the colors cluster around any number?

d. Make a class line plot of your data. Are the data in the class line plot different or the same as yours? Explain.

e. Make a class line plot showing the toatl number of candies in each of your packages. Do the packages have the same number in them?

 

 

 

Closing Activity: Check for understanding by using this as a quick review before class is over. It should take about the last five to ten minutes. I would use it for my students as their 'ticket out the door'. Click Here.

 

 

 

Homework: The homework to be assigned for tonight would be: 7 - 11 odd, 13 - 18

 

Alternative Homework: Enriched: 8 - 12 even, 13 - 18

 

Extra Practice: Students book page 759 Lesson 2-2

 

Extra Practice Worksheet: Click Here.

 

 

 


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