An illustration shows two sets of dot plots. One is titled Weight in Pounds, Cats and the other is Weight in Pounds, Small Dogs. The plots are shown as an abacus-like representation with dots in a vertical row over each number on a number line. For Cats, a number line with arrows on both ends ranges from 9 to 13 in increments of 1. There is 1 dot above 9, 2 dots above 10, 4 dots above 11, 2 dots above 12, and one dot above 13. For Small Dogs, a number line with arrows on both ends ranges from 8 to 15 in increments of 1. There is 1 dot above 8, 2 dots above 9, 4 dots above 10, 2 dots above 11, 2 dots above 12, 2 dots above 13, 1 dot above 14, and 1 dot above 15.

Question

An illustration shows two sets of dot plots. One is titled Weight in Pounds, Cats and the other is Weight in Pounds, Small Dogs. The plots are shown as an abacus-like representation with dots in a vertical row over each number on a number line. For Cats, a number line with arrows on both ends ranges from 9 to 13 in increments of 1. There is 1 dot above 9, 2 dots above 10, 4 dots above 11, 2 dots above 12, and one dot above 13. For Small Dogs, a number line with arrows on both ends ranges from 8 to 15 in increments of 1. There is 1 dot above 8, 2 dots above 9, 4 dots above 10, 2 dots above 11, 2 dots above 12, 2 dots above 13, 1 dot above 14, and 1 dot above 15.

The dot plots show the weights of randomly selected cats and small dogs in different households. Based on an informal assessment of the visual overlap of these distributions, which animal has the least variability in their weights? Why?

A. Cats, because the range of their weights is greater than that of small dogs.

B. Small dogs, because the range of their weights is less than that of cats.

C. Small dogs, because the range of their weights is greater than that of cats.

D. Cats, because the range of their weights is less than that of small dogs.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. Cats, because the range of their weights is less than that of small dogs.

The range is a measure of variability that represents the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set. In this case, the dot plot for cats shows a range of 13-9 = 4 pounds, while the dot plot for small dogs shows a range of 15-8 = 7 pounds. Since the range for cats is smaller, it indicates less variability in their weights compared to small dogs.