Selecting Appropriate Data Displays
Grade 7 students in Big Ideas Math Advanced 2 (Chapter 9: Data Analysis and Displays) learn to select appropriate data displays for different data types. Choosing the right graph—bar graph, line graph, histogram, scatter plot, dot plot, or box-and-whisker plot—depends on whether the data is categorical, numerical, or time-based.
Key Concepts
Choose data displays based on data type and purpose: categorical data $\rightarrow$ bar graphs or circle graphs; numerical data over time $\rightarrow$ line graphs; numerical data distribution $\rightarrow$ histograms, dot plots, or box and whisker plots; relationship between two variables $\rightarrow$ scatter plots; ordered numerical data $\rightarrow$ stem and leaf plots.
Common Questions
How do I choose the right data display in 7th grade math?
Use bar graphs or circle graphs for categorical data, line graphs for data over time, histograms or dot plots for numerical distributions, and scatter plots for relationships between two variables.
What graph should I use for categorical data?
Bar graphs and circle graphs are best for categorical data because they clearly compare categories or show parts of a whole.
When should you use a scatter plot?
Use a scatter plot to show the relationship or correlation between two numerical variables.
What chapter in Big Ideas Math Advanced 2 covers selecting data displays?
Chapter 9: Data Analysis and Displays in Big Ideas Math Advanced 2 (Grade 7) covers selecting appropriate data displays.
What is the difference between a histogram and a dot plot?
Histograms display data in intervals (ranges) showing frequency, while dot plots show each individual data value as a dot above a number line, making exact values visible.