A group of 25 students participated in a science competition. Their scores are below.
| Score (points) | $30-39$ | $40-49$ | $50-59$ | $60-69$ | $70-79$ |
| :--------------- | :------ | :------ | :------ | :------ | :------ |
| Number of Students | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
Would a dot plot or a histogram best represent the data presented here? Why?
A. Histogram, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges
B. Histogram, because a small number of scores are reported individually
C. Dot plot, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges
D. Dot plot, because a small number of scores are reported individually
Answer (1)
Histograms effectively represent data grouped into ranges.
Dot plots are better suited for individual data points.
The given data is grouped into score ranges.
Therefore, a histogram is the best choice because a large number of scores are reported as ranges. Histogram, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges
Explanation
Analyze the problem We are asked to determine whether a dot plot or a histogram would best represent the given data, and to explain why. The data consists of the scores of 25 students in a science competition, grouped into ranges.
Consider dot plots and histograms A dot plot is best used when displaying the distribution of individual data points, especially when the number of data points is relatively small. A histogram is best used when displaying the distribution of data that has been grouped into ranges or intervals.
Determine the best representation Since the data is grouped into ranges (30-39, 40-49, etc.), a histogram is the more appropriate choice for representing this data. The histogram will show the frequency of scores within each range.
Final Answer The correct answer is 'Histogram, because a large number of scores are reported as ranges'.
Examples
Histograms are commonly used to visualize the distribution of grades in a class, showing how many students fall within each grade range (e.g., A, B, C, D, F). This allows teachers and students to quickly understand the overall performance of the class and identify areas where students may need additional support. For example, if a histogram shows that a large number of students scored between 60-69, it indicates that many students may need extra help to reach a higher grade.
