What is an example of a line plot unit?

Answer 1

1. Statistical data can be organized and presented on a number line. Numerical

information displayed on a number line is called a "line plot."

2. The hourly wages earned by the principal wage earner in

ten families is shown in the chart at the right. The data

range from $8.00 per hour to $20.25 per hour. In order

to represent each on a number line, the scale shown must

include these values. A "W" is used to represent each

hourly wage. If more than one "W" has the same

location on the number line, additional "W's" will be

placed one above the other. A line plot on hourly wages

is shown below.

3. Have the students discuss what information can be gained from the line plot. For

example, what is the usual wage? Are any wages very different from the rest?

4. Discuss the possibility of using different symbols to distinguish between sets of

data on the same line plot or to differentiate between values within the same set.

Family Hourly Wage

A $8.00

B $10.50

C $20.25

D $9.40

E $11.00

F $13.75

G $8.50

H $10.50

I $9.00

J $11.00

W W W W W W W W

W W

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Point out that graphs

do not have to start

with "0."