Resources by Making Statistics Vital

Binomial Distribution: Binomial Reverse

Most binomial questions define the binomial distribution and ask students to calculate the most likely value for x. In this activity, students are asked to explore whether the value for p can be found given the value for n and the most likely value for x. Subsequent pages of the presentation provide the solution to...

Binomial Distribution: Most Likely Value

In this activity, students apply their knowledge of the binomial distribution to establish whether each of three rules, regarding the most likely outcome and the expected value, are true. The presentation contains a link to an applet which allows experimentation, and shows the binomial probabilities for various n...

Binomial Distribution: the Binomial Mean and Variance

This activity begins with the definition of the mean and the variance of a binomial distribution. Students are then challenged to take each definition and prove that they work for the binomial distribution B(3,p). The first task is for students to construct the probability distribution then calculate the mean and...

Bivariate Data, Regression and Correlation: Residuals

In this activity the goal is for students to understand how the regression line is chosen. Autograph has a built-in facility for showing the squares of the residuals and is required to make this task work. Students are asked to explore what the lines that give the sum of the y-on-x residuals equal to zero have in...

Bivariate Data, Regression and Correlation: Ten-Point PMCC

In this activity, students are challenged to produce a scatter diagram consisting of ten points that give a product moment correlation coefficient of exactly 0.99. Students are expected to appreciate that the points will lie almost exactly on a straight line with at least one point being slightly out. The answer...

Contingency Tables and the Chi-Squared Distribution: Chi-squared and Percentages

This activity is designed to enable students to appreciate that the chi-squared test can only be carried out using frequencies. This spreadsheet offers students the chance to play with percentages and other kinds of data to develop the understanding that the chi-squared test cannot be used with this data.

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Contingency Tables and the Chi-Squared Distribution: Defining the Chi-squared Distribution

In this activity students explore a spreadsheet which generates a chi-squared distribution with a specific degree of freedom. Students explore the differences in the distribution generated as the degree of freedom varies between 1 and 8. Students are required to find the mean and variance of a distribution with v...

Contingency Tables and the Chi-Squared Distribution: Test Table

During the statistics course, students will meet a range of different methods of hypothesis testing, all slightly different. The aim of this matching exercise is for students to create a table giving a variety of examples of situations in which a test may take place, the type of test which should be used in each...

Data Presentation: Histogram Reconstruction

Histogram reconstruction is an activity designed to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of frequency density and how it is used in the construction of a histogram.

Students cut out bars from a rectangle with which students construct three histograms using the clues given in three partially...

Discrete Random Variables: Double or Add?

In this activity students examine how rolling a dice and doubling the score produces a different probability distribution from rolling two dice and adding the scores on the two die. This activity can be conducted experimentally, with the simulation on sheet two of the spreadsheet producing many trials with...