Lesson Plan # 16 - Introduction to Statistics

  1. (5 min) Mental Math
    1. Multiply 1/3 by 2/7 [2/21]
    2. Multiply 2/5 by 3/4 and reduce [3/10]
    3. What is the decimal for 1620 divided by 100? [16.20]
    4. What is the decimal for 182.1 divided by 10? [18.21]
    5. Multiply 1/5 by 3/7 [3/35]

  2. (5 min) Review of homework #14 (<= 3 problems)

  3. (10 min) Introduce statistics:

    1. Pass out the "Notes on Statistics"
    2. Define "set of data" or "data set".
      Ask students for examples of data sets.
    3. Follow the discussion in the notes:
      1. Explain mean as the average of a set of numbers.

        Example:

        What is the average of {3,5,8,4}? [5]

      2. Explain mode as the most common element.

        Example:

        What is the mode of {3,5,8,4,8,4,4}? [4]

      3. Explain median as the element in the middle. Show the 'cross-out' method.

        Example:

        What is the median of {3,6,1,7,2}? [3]

      4. Explain range as the highest minus the lowest element.

        Example:

        What is the range of {3,6,1,7,2}? [7-1=6]

  4. (Remainder of class) In-class Exercise.

  5. Hand out homework as students successfully complete the in-class exercise.