The art of statistics - October 2011, Stage 3&4

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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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?

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