Compare data sets using histograms and comparative box plots, Practice Set B

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Date:

The following table lists the heights of the 10 tallest wooden roller coasters and the 10 tallest steel roller coasters, measured in feet.

Wood Steel

183.8 T Express 456

181 El Toro 420

165 Goliath 415 Superman

163 Voyage 377.3 Tower of Terror II

161 Mean Streak 318.3

147 Wood Coaster 310

139 White Cyclone 306 Leviathan

136 Hades 360 305

131.3 Wodan Timbur 262.5 Thunder Dolphin

130.9 Monstre 259.2 Fujiyama

1. Create an appropriate graph to compare the data.

2. Use the graphs to write a brief comparison of the data for each of the following:

a. Center:

b. Spread:

c. Shape:

Compare data sets using histograms and comparative box plots, Practice Set B Answer Key The following table lists the heights of the 10 tallest wooden roller coasters and the 10 tallest steel roller coasters, measured in feet.

Wood Steel

183.8 T Express 456 Kingda Ka

181 El Toro 420 Top Thrill Dragster

165 Goliath 415 Superman

163 Voyage 377.3 Tower of Terror II

161 Mean Streak 318.3 Steel Dragon 2000

147 Wood Coaster 310 Millennium Force

139 White Cyclone 306 Leviathan

136 Hades 360 305 Intimidator 305

131.3 Wodan Timbur 262.5 Thunder Dolphin

130.9 Monstre 259.2 Fujiyama

1. Create an appropriate graph to compare the data

Possible graphs:

2. Use the graphs to write a brief comparison of the data for each of the following:

a. Center:

Possible answer: The median of the wood roller coasters, 154 feet, is approximately half that of the steel roller coasters, 314 feet.

b. Spread: Possible answer: The interquartile range of the wood roller coasters, approximately 28 feet, is about one quarter of that of the steel roller coasters, approximately 100 feet, indicating the steel data has a much wider spread.

c. Shape: Possible answer: Considering the quartile values for each data set, the data for the steel roller coasters appears to be right skewed, while the data for the wood roller coasters may be left skewed.