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Reading data

Read a table or chart in context and summarize a small data set. Distinguish mean, median, and range instead of expecting one number to tell the whole story.

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What you’ll learn

Identify what a display measures and how it is scaled.
Calculate mean, median, and range for a small numerical data set.
Explain why a summary needs context and information about variation.

Read what the display actually measures

Check the title, labels, units, sample, and scale. A count, a percentage, and a measurement answer different questions even if their graphs have similar shapes.

Choose the summary that fits the question

The mean shares the total equally across observations. The median is the middle value after ordering the data. For an even number of observations, add the two central values and divide by 2. The range measures the distance between the largest and smallest values.

A mistake to avoid

An average can hide variation or an unusual observation. A cropped axis can also exaggerate a visual difference. Inspect the underlying values and context before extending the conclusion.

Worked example

Summarize 2, 4, 6, and 10

The total is 22, so the mean is 22 ÷ 4 = 5.5. The middle two values are 4 and 6, giving a median of (4 + 6) ÷ 2 = 5. The range is 10 − 2 = 8. The larger observation raises the mean above the median.

Learning paths that include this skill

Choose the route that fits your goal. The same skill can be useful in more than one subject or stage of learning.

Primary / elementary foundationsPrimary mathBuild a connected foundation in number, calculation, fractions, measurement, and data. Use the skills in order or return to the first idea that needs attention.Counting & comparing · Place value · Addition & subtraction · Multiplication · +6 more Preparing for algebraPre-algebraConnect arithmetic to algebra through signed numbers, fractions, proportions, equations, and graphs. Review the specific foundation that blocks the next step.Signed numbers · Equivalent fractions · Decimals · Proportions · +6 more Goal-led refresherAdult math refresherRefresh the mathematics behind a real task, from a percentage or measurement to an equation or graph. Use familiar goals and revisit only the skills you need.Place value · Addition & subtraction · Multiplication · Long division · +12 more Investing concept foundationsInvesting foundationsBuild the vocabulary and numerical understanding needed to read an investing explanation carefully. The sequence teaches concepts through hypothetical examples, without choosing investments or allocations.Saving and investing · Decimals · Percentages · Reading data · +4 more

ProbabilityDefine an event and the possible outcomes before calculating its probability. Use fractions to describe chance and check whether successive events are independent.PercentagesInterpret a percentage as a fraction of a stated base. Calculate a percentage amount and a percentage change without confusing the original and final values.Graphs & coordinatesRead a graph as a relationship between quantities. Check axes and scale, connect points to an equation, and interpret the change between two points.

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