MDM4U 1.

3 Displaying Numeric Data

Histograms

Quantitative variables often take many values. A graph of the distribution is clearer if nearby
values are grouped together. A is a frequency distribution where the horizontal
access is divided into equal class in to which data have been divided. The heights of the
rectangles (that have no spaces between them) represent the frequencies associated with
the corresponding intervals.

It is important that each interval have the same width. Histograms are most appropriate for
________________variables but you will see them for
continuous __________ variables as well.

Example 1:

a) Is the following graph a bar graph or a histogram? How do you know?

Hisa histogram because

between
there are no spaces
thebars

irill
b) Which height interval has the highest frequency? What is the frequency?

180
191 frequency is it
MDM4U 1.3 Displaying Numeric Data

Creating Histograms on Google Sheets using quantitative data

1. Enter your data in a table
2. Highlight all the data
3. Choose Chart from the tool bar or the Insert menu
4. Choose Histogram under Chart type
5. Customize the histogram
a. The most common setting you need to change is the bin width or bucket size
i. Select the value you want or type it in
ii. Adjust the title
iii. Under gridlines and ticks you can add in extra lines for the frequency

Example 2 :

Here are a class’s scores obtained on a data management exam:

a) Determine the range of the data

Max 98 Range Max Min

41 857
min the nearest value thatis
round
up to
amultiple ofthe numberof
b) Determine an appropriate bin (interval) width that will divide the data into 6 intervals.

biomarkers
c) Determine the first value of your first interval.

We added 3
Hiei
to 57 when we rounded our range, therefore we should subtract
1.5 from our smallest value 41 ; which makes our
starting point 41 . 1.52 33.9.5
s nt min.mn
t
8
Max Roundeds
Endingpent
MDM4U 1.3 Displaying Numeric Data

d) Create a frequency table using your intervals

2
3
8
10
5
2

e) Create a histogram of the data

30h same number
as thenumber
ofscores

ii

t.fm
a
MDM4U 1.3 Displaying Numeric Data

Creating Histograms on Desmos

1. Enter the data in a list by typin g in the first row: the set must be labeled using capital letters,
and the elements must be listed between square brackets.

2. Type the word boxplot in the row below Set A.

3. Click on the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner of row 2 to center the boxplot

4. Change the bin width to notice the changes in your histogram.