Calculating the mean from data displays

The  exercise appears under the 6th grade (U.S.) Math Mission. This exercise practices the ability to read different statistical displays and to calculate the mean.

Types of Problems
There are three types of problems in this exercise:


 * 1) Find the mean from the pictograph: This problem has a pictograph that displays some data. The student is asked to use the pictograph to find the mean of the represented in the display.Ctmfvdd1.png
 * 2) Find the mean from the bar chart: This problem has a bar chart that displays some data. The student is asked to use the bar chart to find the mean of the represented in the display.Ctmfvdd2.png
 * 3) Find the mean from the frequency table: This problem has a frequency table that displays some data. The student is asked to use the frequency table to find the mean of the represented in the display.Ctmfvdd3.png

Strategies
Knowledge of statistical vocabulary and the ability to do basic statistical calculations are encouraged to ensure success on this exercise.
 * 1) The mean is the sum of the data values divided by the number of data values.
 * 2) On the pictograph problem it is important to read the scale and key.
 * 3) In the frequency table lists can be used to multiply the value times the frequency and increase efficiency slightly.

Real-life Applications

 * 1) Data and statistics appear in news reports and in the media every day.
 * 2) Many of the problems in this exercise could be viewed as real-life applications.
 * 3) Statistics can be seen more frequently than calculus in every day life.