Lesson 8

Describing Distributions on Histograms

Let's describe distributions displayed in histograms.

Problem 1

The histogram summarizes the data on the body lengths of 143 wild bears. Describe the distribution of body lengths. Be sure to comment on shape, center, and spread.

A histogram, length in inches, from 30 to 85 by fives.  Beginning at 30 up to but not including 35, height of bar at each interval is 0, 2, 5, 10, 11, 30, 36, 20, 15, 13, 1.

Problem 2

Which data set is more likely to produce a histogram with a symmetric distribution? Explain your reasoning.

  • Data on the number of seconds on a track of music in a pop album.

  • Data on the number of seconds spent talking on the phone yesterday by everyone in the school.

Problem 3

Evaluate the expression \(4x^3\) for each value of \(x\).

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. \(\frac12\)
(From Unit 6, Lesson 15.)

Problem 4

Decide if each data set might produce one or more gaps when represented by a histogram. For each data set that you think might produce gaps, briefly describe or give an example of how the values in the data set might do so.

  1. The ages of students in a sixth-grade class.

  2. The ages of people in an elementary school.

  3. The ages of people eating in a family restaurant.

  4. The ages of people who watch football.

  5. The ages of runners in a marathon.

Problem 5

Jada drank 12 ounces of water from her bottle. This is 60% of the water the bottle holds.

  1. Write an equation to represent this situation. Explain the meaning of any variables you use.
  2. How much water does the bottle hold?
(From Unit 6, Lesson 7.)