Representing variability with mean, median, mode and range

This is a concept development lesson that involves deepening understanding of how to calculate the mean, median, mode, and range from a frequency chart. Coverage is also given to using a frequency chart to describe a possible data set given information on the mean, median, mode and range.

The situation is presented where computer games are given a rating from 1 to 6. The results of collecting data on games is presented in the form of twelve frequency charts. There is a matching exercise where frequency charts must be matched to twelve tables that give information on the mean, median, mode and range.

The greatest range is 6 and the data sets are small, making the task one that will be accessible to students who have a basic familiarity with different averages.

There are pre-lesson and post-lesson formative assessment tasks. Detailed teacher notes give suggestions on questioning and how to use the resources. Full solutions are given for each of the sections.

This is a concept development lesson from the Mathematics Assessment Resource Service, a collaboration between UC Berkeley and the Shell Centre team at the University of Nottingham. Further information on the collection is given here.