Math 143 C/E, Spring 2001
IPS Reading Discussion Questions
Chapter 1, Section 1 (pp. 5-23)

1. List by name all of the types of graphical displays of data that are discussed in the section. Which ones seem best for categorical data? Which for quantitative? Are there any that could not be used for categorical data? for quantitative data?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Why is it helpful to see a graphical display of data? Why not just look at the raw data itself (like in Table 1.1, for instance)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. How are stemplots and histograms similar? How are they different? Are there advantages of one over the other?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What is the difference between an histogram and a bar graph? Would they be used for the same types of data (categorical and/or quantitative)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. What is the difference between frequency and relative frequency?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Table 1.1 gives Newcomb's measurements of the speed of light, and a time plot of these measurements appears on p. 19. Use Minitab to produce a dotplot of these same measurements. For what purposes might you prefer having the dotplot? the time plot? Which of the two is more rightly called a distribution?