Basic Statistics

Definition

Basic statistics involves collecting, organizing, and interpreting numerical data. At this level, it focuses on simple measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and basic data representation.

Prerequisites

To understand basic statistics, you should have mastered:

Learning Objectives

After mastering basic statistics, you should be able to:

Calculate mean (average) of a set of numbers
Find median and mode of data sets
Create simple bar graphs and pictographs
Read and interpret basic charts and graphs
Collect and organize data
Compare different data sets
Make simple predictions based on data

Key Concepts

Measures of Central Tendency

Mean (average)
Median (middle number)
Mode (most frequent number)
When to use each measure

Data Representation

Tally marks
Bar graphs
Pictographs
Line plots

Data Analysis

Collecting data
Organizing data
Interpreting data
Making predictions

Examples

Example 1: Finding Mean (Grade 3)

Problem: Find the average of these test scores: 85, 90, 88, 92, 85

Solution: 1. Add all numbers: 85 + 90 + 88 + 92 + 85 = 440 2. Count how many numbers: 5 3. Divide: 440 ÷ 5 = 88 4. The mean is 88

Example 2: Finding Median (Grade 3)

Problem: Find the median of: 7, 3, 9, 4, 5

Solution: 1. Order numbers: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 2. Find middle number: 5 3. The median is 5

Example 3: Creating a Bar Graph (Grade 4)

Problem: Create a bar graph showing favorite fruits: - Apples: 6 students - Bananas: 4 students - Oranges: 7 students

Solution:

Favorite Fruits
7  |     █
6  | █   █
5  | █   █
4  | █ █ █
3  | █ █ █
2  | █ █ █
1  | █ █ █
   |--------
    A B O

Common Misconceptions

Confusing mean and median
Not ordering numbers when finding median
Counting repeated numbers twice when finding mode
Misinterpreting scale on graphs

Progression Path

This skill leads to:

Practice Activities

Basic: Calculate mean of small number sets
Intermediate: Create simple bar graphs
Advanced: Compare mean, median, and mode
Challenge: Collect and analyze real-world data