Statistics

Lesson 5

Math

Unit 8

6th Grade

Lesson 5 of 14

Objective


Define and determine the mean of a data set.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

  • 6.SP.A.2 — Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.
  • 6.SP.B.5.C — Giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any overall pattern and any striking deviations from the overall pattern with reference to the context in which the data were gathered.

Foundational Standards

  • 6.NS.B.2
  • 6.NS.B.3

Criteria for Success


  1. Understand the mean or average of a data set using the fair share concept, where the total is distributed so that every share in the data set has equal value or weight.
  2. Understand that the mean or average of a data set is always between the lowest and greatest value in the data set. 
  3. Calculate the mean of data sets.

Tips for Teachers


In Lessons 5–7, students will learn about three measures of center: mean, median, and mode. In Lesson 8, students will determine which measure of center best represents a data set given various circumstances. 

Lesson Materials

  • Optional: Play money (1 set per small group)
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Anchor Problems

25-30 minutes


Problem 1

A company hires five people for the same job for one week. The amount that each person is paid for the week is shown in the table below.

Person Person A Person B Person C Person D Person E
Amount Paid $360 $340 $300 $200 $400

Person D states that the payments are not fair since each person is doing the same job and brings the same set of skills to the job. Everyone agrees that they should all get paid the same amount. 

How much should each person get paid so that everyone gets the same amount? Assume that the company will spend the same amount as it currently is.

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 2

After finding the average or fair share payment for each person, Person E decides to not take the job because they would be making less money. 

a.   If Person E leaves, then what is the new average payment of persons A–D?

b.   What impact did Person E leaving have on the average payment?

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 3

The company asks the five people how many hours each person worked that week to complete the job. The results are shown in the table below.

Person Person A Person B Person C Person D Person E
Hours worked 24 28 22 20 36

What is the mean, or average, number of hours worked by a person last week?

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Target Task

5-10 minutes


The dot plot below shows the numbers of miles that sixth grade students live from their school.

What is the average number of miles that this group of sixth graders live from school?

Student Response

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Additional Practice


The following resources include problems and activities aligned to the objective of the lesson that can be used for additional practice or to create your own problem set.

  • Include examples where students find the mean of different data sets, including those that have a small range, a wide range, outliers, etc. Include data sets with decimal values to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate fluency with decimals.
  • Include examples where students find the mean of a data set given as a dot plot.
  • Ask students to explain what the mean or average is in their own words, using the fair share concept.

Next

Define and determine the median of a data set.

Lesson 6
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Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Understanding Statistics & Distributions

Topic B: Measurements of Center & Variability

Topic C: Box Plots & Circle Graphs

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