Representing data with frequency graphs

This is a concept development lesson, designed to enhance how well students:

• Are able to use frequency graphs to identify a range of measures and make sense of data in a real-world context
• Understand that a large number of data points allows a frequency graph to be approximated by a continuous distribution

The initial activity involves drawing two bar charts to fit information about a test. The first bar chart must be drawn with the median equal to the mode, whilst on the second bar chart the median must be different from the mode.

The lesson then looks at using a continuous representation of discrete data by modelling a frequency bar chart with a frequency line graph. A series of frequency line graphs is then presented and students must match statements with them.

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.