The art of statistics - October 2011, Stage 2&3

This month we celebrate statistics, representing and interpreting data. What stories do complicated data sets tell us? How can we present this information clearly? How can we avoid being misled by statistics?

Problems

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If the World Were a Village

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

This activity is based on data in the book 'If the World Were a Village'. How will you represent your chosen data for maximum effect?

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The Domesday Project

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Take a look at these data collected by children in 1986 as part of the Domesday Project. What do they tell you? What do you think about the way they are presented?

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Birdwatch

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Have a look at this data from the RSPB 2011 Birdwatch. What can you say about the data?

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Class 5's Names

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Class 5 were looking at the first letter of each of their names. They created different charts to show this information. Can you work out which member of the class was away on that day?

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Retiring to Paradise

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

When Charlie retires, he's looking forward to the quiet life, whereas Alison wants a busy and exciting retirement. Can you advise them on where they should go?

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How Would You Score It?

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Invent a scoring system for a 'guess the weight' competition.

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Statistical Shorts

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you decide whether these short statistical statements are always, sometimes or never true?

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Which Spinners?

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you work out which spinners were used to generate the frequency charts?

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Charting Success

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you make sense of the charts and diagrams that are created and used by sports competitors, trainers and statisticians?

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Which List Is Which?

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Six samples were taken from two distributions but they got muddled up. Can you work out which list is which?

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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