Engage: Scenarios to think about

Before we begin the first lesson, remember, you will

not be on your own!

Utilize the resources available to you in this

course. Click "modules" on the left menu and
you'll find "Resource Module" near the top.
If you want to see a certain topic presented in a
different way, visit Stat Trek
(http://stattrek.com/tutorials/ap-statistics-
tutorial.aspx) . Select a topic from the menu on
the left hand side.
Message your instructor using the "inbox" icon on the left panel.
We use BOLD text to tell you what you should be doing.
We use ITALICS to tell you that that word is an important vocabulary term.

Ok, let's get started!

Statistics are all around you on a daily basis. Read and consider the following scenarios:

Scenario 1:
A group of children is in a summer camp. The day is hot, they have been running around, and they are about to
take a break. For their break, they will each get to choose between a popsicle, an ice cream, or frozen yogurt.
You are curious as to which cold treat was the most popular. What is the variable? What kind of variable is it?
What kind of graph can you use to display your results?

Image courtesy of Pixabay user civilhetes (https://pixabay.com/en/users/civilhetes-1360089/) at https://pixabay.com/en/kid-heat-ice-cream-girl-

girls-974181/ (https://pixabay.com/en/kid-heat-ice-cream-girl-girls-974181/)

Scenario 2:

Your teacher makes a friendly contest between your class (1st period) and her other class of the
same course (3rd period). The contest is to see which class can perform better on the upcoming
exam. What is the variable? What kind of variable is it? What kind of graph can you use to
display your results? Can you use more than one graph? Is one type of graph "better" than
another?

Statistics allows us to answer these questions. Statistics is the science of collecting and analyzing data. Not all data
is the same. It is important to know what kind of data we are dealing with. Data can be represented using
different types of graphs. In certain situations, one type of graph may be more appropriate than the others.

Go on to the next page.

Image courtesy of Pixabay user Clker-Free-Vector-Images at https://pixabay.com/en/users/Clker-

Free-Vector-Images-3736/ (https://pixabay.com/en/users/Clker-Free-Vector-Images-3736/)