Unit 6 Sample Work

Question

The problem solving template is a tool which can be used to help solve difficult problems. For this

sample work you will use the problem solving template to set up and then solve the equation. Complete

each part of the template for the question and then solve the question with work shown in the “Do”

square.

Age at first Job- 12,12,13,14,16,17,17,20,21,21,22

Create a box and whisker plot with the data given above. Find and label the quartile 1, median

(quartile 2), quartile 3, minimum, and maximum.

Think(1pt): What have they told you? What does it mean? What more do you know or can you figure out? What connections can you make? Do

you have a list of things you know, ideas to try &

a plan for doing it?

Do(5pts): Solve by showing steps towards completing the problem, including writing/using equations. Revise your plan if it doesn’t work the

first time. Check your work. No guess and check.

Answer(3pts): Look back at your work and answer – does it make sense, answer all of the questions, and is reasonable (accurate)? Organize

and report your work and final answer.

Answer 1

First ensure the data is in order, smallest to largest, which it is. Then divide the data up into equal parts. First find the middle, called the median, and it is "17" because there are 5 numbers on the left of it and 5 numbers on the right. Then divide the left half up into two equal pieces and find the middle of the left half, which is "13" because there are two numbers on the left of it and two numbers on the right of it (considering ONLY the left half of the data). The middle of the left half is called Q1. Then repeat for the right half. The middle of the right have is called Q3.

Then draw the box and whiskers plot. First draw a number line. Then draw the box. The box begins at Q1 and ends at Q3. Put a line in the box to align with the median. Then draw the whiskers. They go out from the middle of the box toward the smallest number in the data (12) and on the other side toward the largest number in the data (22). Like this:

What does this all mean? The box and whiskers plot is just a tool to help a person visualize the data. You can see by looking at the plot that the data is evenly spread with the median aligning approximately to the average (or mean) and that there is approximately the same amount of data above the median as below. You do however see that the whiskers are squished a bit meaning that there is more data near the middle than at the extremes.