1. Collecting data
[ S1.1 Extension Starter]
These are the results of a survey which asked how many coins a sample of 40 people had in loose change in their pockets or purses.
Taking no more than five minutes, see how much information you can “squeeze” from this data. 6 2 3 7 1 4 8 9
Preamble
This is suited to small groups or pairs possibly working with a wipe board. The pressure of time should encourage pupils to maximise the conclusions they can draw. A sample size of 40 should make clear the advantages, in terms of time and accuracy, of performing a “proper” tally.
Possible content
Drawing and analysing a tally chart.
Resources
None.
Solution/Notes The frequencies obtained from a tally should match these:
0 2 1 3 2 9 3 6 4 2
5 0 6 5 7 8 8 4 9 1
It suggests two groups – the difference perhaps lying in amount of change carried in a pocket versus a purse.
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2010
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2010