Mathematics
Advanced
50 mins
Teacher/Student led
Learning Goals
Learning Outcomes
Lesson Files
+75 XP
Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.
What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Comparing Data Sets and Drawing Inferences

Compare two data sets by their centre and spread to draw inferences. Discover how two groups can share the same mean yet tell very different stories about consistency and range.

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    1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

    Two results cards: 6th Class A and 6th Class B, spelling test out of 25, each with a mean score of 15.

    Key question

    Two 6th classes sat the same spelling test out of 25. Both classes had a mean score of 15. So did the two classes really do the same? Or could a single number be hiding a very different story?

    👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

    +5 XP

    2 - Watch and Notice ~8 mins

    Here are the two classes' spelling test scores.

    • Class A: 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16
    • Class B: 8, 12, 15, 15, 20, 20

    Both sets have a mean of 15. Look at how far apart the lowest and highest scores are in each set. That gap is the range (the distance from the lowest to the highest score).

    👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

    +10 XP

    3 - Compare Sets Side by Side ~9 mins

    Now you compare three fresh pairs of data sets, not the two classes. Each pair comes up as two plots side by side, so you can read both at once:

    • Pair 1: 14, 15, 16 against 5, 15, 25
    • Pair 2: 15, 16, 17 against 9, 12, 21
    • Pair 3: 9, 10, 10, 11 against 9, 10, 10, 11, 24

    For each comparison, read off the mean and the range of both plots, then say which set is more consistent and which is more spread out.

    +10 XP

    4 - Record and Infer in Your Copy ~3 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, record the mean of the Class A and Class B scores from Watch and Notice. Note which set is more spread out. Then write one inference sentence backed by a number, for example: Class A is more consistent because its range is only …, while Class B's range is ….

    +10 XP
    Pupil practice
    Module 9 · Data and Chance Data & Chance
    Lesson 107 · Comparing Data Sets and Drawing Inferences
    Download Activity Book page (PDF)
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