What type of graph is best suited for displaying the range and frequency distribution of the number of hours the students in a class spend on homework while still showing each individual amount of time spent on homework?
To display the range and frequency distribution of the number of hours students spend on homework while still showing each individual amount of time, a combination of a box plot and a histogram can be used. Here's how you can create such a graph:
1. Start by collecting the data on the number of hours students spend on homework. Make sure you have a complete list of individual amounts of time.
2. Create a frequency distribution table by listing the different intervals of hours spent on homework. For example, you can have intervals of 0-2 hours, 2-4 hours, 4-6 hours, and so on.
3. Count the number of students falling within each interval and record the frequency in the frequency distribution table.
4. Create a histogram by plotting the intervals on the x-axis and the corresponding frequencies on the y-axis. Each bar in the histogram will represent an interval, and its height will correspond to the frequency.
5. Next, create a box plot to show the range and distribution of the data. The box plot consists of a box, whiskers, and potential outliers.
- Draw a box that spans from the lower quartile (Q1) to the upper quartile (Q3), representing the middle 50% of the data.
- Draw a line within the box to represent the median (Q2), which divides the data into two equal halves.
- Extend the whiskers from the box, typically to 1.5 times the interquartile range (IQR) above and below the box.
- Plot any individual data points that lie beyond the whiskers as potential outliers.
6. Place the box plot vertically alongside the histogram, sharing the same x-axis. This way, you can visualize both the individual data points and the distribution of the data.
By combining a histogram and a box plot in this manner, you can effectively display the range and frequency distribution of the number of hours students spend on homework while retaining the ability to observe each individual amount of time.