Line Plots, Scatter Plots and Mean
Lessons in this chapter
About Line Plots, Scatter Plots and Mean
Data Handling in 5th grade separates categorical data from numeric data, which is the distinction that determines which graph and which summary are appropriate.
Read and Interpret Categorical Data Using Frequency Tables and Bar Graphs covers data that falls into named groups, where bar graphs are right and the order of the bars carries no meaning.
Solve Real Life Problems Using Line Plots and Read and Interpret Numeric Data Using Scatter Plots handle measured data. A scatter plot is the new format, and it is the first one showing two measurements for each item, so it can reveal a relationship between them rather than just a distribution.
Find Mean, Median, Mode and Range from Different Data Representations adds the mean to the summaries from 4th grade. The mean shares the total out equally, which makes it the most informative average and the most easily distorted: one extreme value pulls it, while the median stays put.
Knowing which average to use is the real outcome. For evenly spread data the mean is best; where a few extreme values would mislead, the median is the honest choice.
All four lessons open as a 5th grade math worksheet in the page. Read and Interpret Categorical Data Using Frequency Tables and Bar Graphs, Read and Interpret Numeric Data Using Scatter Plots and Find Mean, Median, Mode and Range from Different Data Representations each set their own questions, scored as you answer them. They are free to try, with no login needed for your first 3.
Frequently asked questions
Read and Interpret Categorical Data Using Frequency Tables and Bar Graphs covers data that falls into named groups, then Solve Real Life Problems Using Line Plots and Read and Interpret Numeric Data Using Scatter Plots handle measured data, with the scatter plot the first format showing two measurements for each item. Find Mean, Median, Mode and Range from Different Data Representations closes the chapter and adds the mean to the summaries from 4th grade. The line plot work sits in Measurement and Data (5.MD); scatter plots and the measures of center go further than the Common Core asks at this grade, which introduces mean and median in its 6th grade Statistics and Probability domain (6.SP) and scatter plots in 8th grade (8.SP).
Add all the values and divide by how many there are. It shares the total out equally, which is why it is called the average.
When a few extreme values would distort the picture. One very large value pulls the mean up but leaves the median where it is.
Categorical data falls into named groups like favorite color. Numeric data is measured, like height. They need different graphs and different summaries.
A graph showing two measurements for each item as a single point. It is the first format that can show a relationship between two variables rather than one distribution.
The difference between the largest and smallest values. It describes spread, not a typical value.