Homework for Weds, September 30

Assignment:  Counting Pets
*Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the graphs available online, just the questions.
We are working hard on recognizing a) what we do know and b) what we don't know with c) realizing the information we still need in order to know.
Do not be afraid to say, "There is not enough information," but you DO need to tell me the information you would need to answer the question.
This skill might still feel backwards to you, interpreting a graph back into data, but it's what reading a graph is all about.  Keep working on it!
Be sure to answer the questions thoroughly and specifically, include your work, and dig in!
Due Thursday

Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 29

Assignment: 3 Box Plots
This is the complex graphing of 5 numbers that probably doesn't quite fully make sense to you yet.  That's OKAY!!!  The point is that you are going to create these graphs using the 5 number summaries you have and then we will talk about them in class on Wednesday.
1) Page Set-Up
*Turn your page in the same way you set up for your histograms. (we did this in class today)  Mark your scale as "1 box = 1 year"
*Along the bottom of your page should be your horizontal axis labeled with the coin years.  Make sure your coins are listed from newest (top) to oldest (bottom).
*Make sure your years are listed on the LINES of the graph paper.
*I like to list my coins in increments of 5 years and I often draw a bold line marking those increments so I can see it as I work across my page.
*You will draw three box plots total, one in each color; you have room, but the exact width of your boxes is not important.
2) Making Your Box Plots
Your box plots will stretch on your page from the top (2015) to the oldest coin data point at the bottom.
*You will need the 5-number summary you created for yourself, your partner's 5 number summary, and the your class 5-number summaries.  (Click HERE for the class 5-number summaries).
*Make one box plot at a time; you began with your own in class today. 
-----First mark the 5 data points on your page.  Connect the whiskers (one at each end) and draw the box (with the median going through your middle point) using those 5 points as your markers.   I like to make my box plots 4 - 6 boxes in width, but that's up to whatever looks good to you.----
*If you would like to see again what a box plot looks like, click HERE.  That's the general picture; all box plots look about the same (shape), but come in different sizes depending upon the data you are using.  This is one of the things you should try to figure out, by the way ... if it's in quarters, why aren't they all the same size?  Hmmm...
*For more detailed directions on how to do this, click HERE.
That's really it for that.  Box plots are quick and simple to draw once you get the hang of them. 
Due Wednesday, but you will not hand them in to the basket at the beginning of class.
Be prepared to discuss what you think you see!

Homework for Monday, Sept. 28

Assignment:  Sodas WS
(the title of this assignment is a link to the worksheet)
Using the histogram provided, answer the questions on the page. 
*When it asks you to explain, explain.  Seriously.  How did you use the data?
*If you need/want to draw horizontal lines to read the graph better, I certainly recommend it.  You will be responsible for being accurate ... don't guess. 
*The numbers will all be whole numbers: no half students or partially drunk sodas.
Like I told you in class, this worksheet looks simpler than it is.  On the other hand, if you think of it as working backwards and work back towards creating your organized list, these questions WILL be easy to answer.  Just take your time and be throrough. 
Due Tuesday
*Don't forget: On Tuesday you also need to bring your organized coin list with you to class so you can participate in what we are doing.  Recreate it if you need to from your histograms or from your frequency table!

Homework for Thursday, September 24

Assignment: Alphabet Probability
Tonight we are collecting data of the frequency of letters used in books and articles.   You should use something that is very "reader friendly," not a science journal, dictionary, or geography atlas.  You may use a fiction book or newspaper article of your choice.  The guidelines are:
*Please write the title of the book/article you used.
*Select 100 words; they should be in sequence, not random words on the page.  It does not matter where you begin your 100 words in the book/article, just that you tally the letters for 100 sequential words.
*Make tally marks on the frequency table for EVERY letter in those 100 words.  Be methodical and accurate.
*Total your tally marks in the spaces provided.  Be methodical and accurate.
*Answer the questions that follow on the page.  You should write the final question on the back of the assignment sheet or you may type them up and staple it to the page.
*If you lost or forgot your worksheet, you can get a copy of it by clicking HERE.
Due Friday

Homework for Wednesday, Sept. 23

Assignment:  Slugville
*the title of this assignment is a copy of the worksheet
In this assignment you will need to create your own "visual" for thinking about this problem set.  The story is that three people are running for mayor all with accurate "averages," yet different from one another!  If they are all telling the truth, your job is to explain how that is possible, what information they used to determine their truth, and then ultimately which central tendency you believe is the best (fairest?) indicator.
a) Show me all of your calculations - on the page or attach another sheet of paper. Explain how the candidate determined the information they would use.
b - d) Using the actual numbers, answer the questions.
e) Select one of the central tendencies (are you running for mayor too?) and defend your choice.
f) Recalculate your original findings and write the NEW averages.
*as always (almost), you may NOT use a calculator for this assignment
Due Thursday

Homework for Tuesday, 9/22

Assignment(s):  Perfect 10 or Data Dilemma
Today was your first opportunity to select an assignment that fit what you felt you most needed to practice tonight.  You had two choices and ultimately you are responsible for one of them.  You may certainly change your choice to one, the other, or both of the assignments, but please do not feel as if you need to do both of them.
*The title of Perfect 10 is a link to that assignment; I am still working on Data Dilemma.
Perfect 10:  In this assignment, you have been given "10" as the answer to the question.  Your job is to figure out which of the central tendencies "10" represents in each of the given number sets.  Then using the central tendency that you determine is the answer, fill in the blanks for the "Fun Fact" with the corresponding letter to the problem number at the bottom of the page.  The answer will be two actors that you most likely do not know ... but your parents probably will!
No calculators are allowed for this assignment and you need to show your work (math computations) on either the front or back of the worksheet, OR on another sheet of paper that you attach to this worksheet.
This assignment should take you from 10 - 15 minutes to complete.
Data Dilemma: In this assignment, you are to figure out the numbers that are missing FROM the data set while knowing the mean, median, and mode.  Note: this worksheet is pretty difficult!  Tackle it like you would a puzzle and try some different numbers.  You will need to tackle different problems from different angles ... in some cases the mode might be a handy place to begin and in others the median.  You will always need the mean to check that your answers work!
Note: the first number in each row is the number OF the problem, not a number in the set.
Note: Problems 1 - 5 each set has 5 data values and in problems 6 - 10 each set has 6 data values.
This assignment will most likely take you at least 1/2 hour, but I have had students report that it has taken them an hour (or even more) as well.  Pace yourself accordingly; do not feel you have to "stick with" this worksheet if you find that it overwhelms you!
Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Sept. 21

New!
Assignment: Graphic Details
The title of this assignment is a link to a copy of the worksheet.
*Use your common sense to make sense of these graphs - what is possible and what is not?  Remember, don't overthink it, but it also doesn't make sense for a family to have 0 members, right?
*Make sure you use the titles (A - D) in blanks 1, 3, 5, and 7.
*Make sure your lables (E -  H) match the titles you have chosen.  Those should be written into blanks 2, 4, 6, and 8.  Labels match the numbers across the bottom of each graph.
*Explanations, #9, can be SIMPLE: "Good average numbers for family sizes." for example.  Brevity is fine as it needs to fit in the blank, but basically you are identifying the statistic that clued you in to choosing the title you chose.
*Questions: Use the graphs you chose to answer these questions ... count carefully!
Due Tuesday

Redos (Free!): 
Today I handed back your central tendency definitions so you could complete them correctly.  Please see the blog post from 9/16 if you need more details.
You also received your Coin Histograms for completion; these have NOT been scored yet, so make sure you turn them in again!  Please see the 9/15 blog post if you need more details, but we did go over these at length in class today too.
Turn in asap!

Homework for Wednesday, Sept. 16

Assignment:  4 Definitions of ...
Today you received a yellow slip of paper with one of the meaures of central tendencies written on it: mean, median, mode, or range.  There is also a number set on the page:  20, 4, 7, 4, and 5.
Your assignment is to -
1) Interview three people, all 7th grade or over.  Parents, neighbors, and friends (older) all apply. You may not interview Mr. Gacek, Mr. Kehoe, or Mo.
2) Ask them the definition of the word on your paper and write their definition down on the paper.  Do NOT correct their definitions, just write what they say.  Be sure to include their answer to the given number set.
3) Finish with your definition of your word and what you believe the numerical answer to be from the given set.
*Be sure to identify each of the people you interviewed and write your name on your paper.
This is due Thursday, September 16, prior to leaving for Camp Colman.  Just drop your paper off in the room #1 basket!

Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 15

Coin Data:  Frequency Table and 3 Histograms
Never underestimate the power of being able to read and interpret graphs deeply.  We're practicing that, you know: deep interpretation.
Frequency Table -
*Your sheet should list all of the years from your oldest coin to 2015.
*You should have one color representing your tallies and another color representing your partner's tallies. 
*Tallies should be marked next to the appropriate year; there should be one tally per coin represented.
You will use this table to create your histograms.

3 Histograms -
Here is a visual of the set-up for the three histograms you are to create.  (note they are all on one piece of extra long graph paper turned sideways)

The super important things are that every year is represented, your scale is accurate, you have three colors designated in your legend, and that everything is labeled.
The histograms are stacked on top of one another with each histogram in a unique color as used in your frequency table.  But this time, there will also be a "combined" graph color.  Be sure to make a legend (key) on your histogram sheet with these labeled.
*Each coin should be represented twice:  once in the individual graph and once in the combined data graph. 
*Count your boxes - each individual graph should have 20 colored boxes and your combined graph should have 40.
Graphs are nothing if they are not accurate and not useful if you cannot interpret them.  Be prepared to dig deep tomorrow! 
Due Wednesday

Homework for Monday, Sept. 14

Coin Data:  Statistics!
Today in class you received a random sample of 20 pennies from my home stash. 
1) Your first task was to predict, in a few sentences, what the years for your sample of pennies would be and why you thought that.  You might have spoken in terms of range, or clusters, or even specifics, but the point was to let me know how you think.
2) Your next task was to organize your second paper by dividing the page in half down the middle. 
-On the left side your heading should be Random Chaos.
-On the right side your heading should be Organized List
*Your next task was to go through your pennies one-by-one in random form, writing down the year of each penny as they occur in the left column.  You should have twenty different data points, meaning you should write each year every time it occurs.
*On the right side of the page, you create your organized list from your random chaos data.  Begin with the newest penny at the top and work down to the oldest.  Again, you should have twenty different data points, meaning you should write each year every time it occurs.
3) Finally, on your prediction page, you were to make three  observations regarding your data.  Make them interesting, use examples, make them detailed, and show me your awesome math mind.  Again, let me know how you are thinking ... I want to see how your mind works and I will only know if you tell me.  ;-)
Your Prediction and 3 Observations are due on Tuesday, September 15, in the math basket.
You should hang on to your data sheet (organized and random) to use in class!

First Assignment! Thursday, Sept. 10

Assignment #1:  Magic Trick!
*Perform the magic trick we learned in class for at least one adult or older-than-you person.
*Explain how the magic trick works.
*Have the person sign your sheet.
Due: Friday, Sept. 11