MM255 Business Math
Unit 3 Instructor Graded Project
Search the internet to find three applications of statistical concepts that you find interesting, that you
encounter on a daily basis, or that you find in your profession.
Suggestions that can be used for responses to students are included at the end of the document.
1.
Circle Graph
(a) Find an example of a circle graph in the newspaper or periodical articles or on the internet.
Cite the source and the date.
Sales of Homes (in thousands)
2
3
1st Qtr
2nd Qtr
6
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr
8
www.madeupgraph.org, July 4, 20__
Picture should show a circle graph with source and date cited.
(b) Briefly explain what the graph shows.
The graph shows the sales of homes over the course of one year. It shows that 2nd quarter
had the greatest number of sales and 4th quarter had the least number of home sales. 1st and
4th quarters together had less home sales than either 3rd quarter or 2nd quarter individually.
(c) Make up a problem that uses the information on the graph to find other (not given)
information.
**Only one question needs to be asked, but here are several examples** Which quarter had
the least amount of sales? Which quarter had the greatest amount of sales? How many more
homes were sold in 3rd quarter than in 4th quarter? What percentage of annual sales happened
in 2nd quarter? Were more homes sold in the first half of the year or the second half?
1
MM255 Business Math
Unit 3 Instructor Graded Project
2.
Bar Graph
(a) Find an example of a bar graph in the newspaper or periodical articles or on the internet.
Cite the source and the date.
Picture should show a bar graph with source and date cited.
6
Main Street School State Test Scores
5
4
3
Last year
This year
2
1
0
Math Scores
Science Scores
English Scores
Reading Scores
www.madeupbargraph.org Jan 1, 20__
(b) Briefly explain what the graph shows.
The graph shows Main Street School State Test scores from last year compared to this year in
the subjects of Math, Science, English, and Reading. Based on the graph, Math and Reading
scores declined by the same amount while Science scores increased slightly and English
scores stayed the same.
(c) Make up a problem that uses the information on the graph to find other (not given)
information.
**Only one question needs to be asked, but here are several examples** Which subject
received the highest score? Which subject received the lowest score? Which subject(s)’
scores improved from last year? Which subject(s)’ scores declined from last year? Which
subject(s)’ scores stayed the same from last year? By how much did the math scores decline
from last year to this year? By how much did the Science scores improve from last year?
2
MM255 Business Math
Unit 3 Instructor Graded Project
3. Line Graph
(a) Find an example of a line graph in the newspaper or periodical articles or on the internet.
Cite the source and the date.
Happyville Crime Statistics
18
16
14
12
10
Robbery
8
Murder
Assault
6
4
2
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
www.pretendlinegraph.org Dec 25, 20__
Picture should show a line graph with source and date cited.
(b) Briefly explain what the graph shows.
The graph shows the number of robberies, murders, and assaults in Happyville over the
course of 4 years. Robberies and assaults stayed relatively flat while murders took a
significant jump up in the last year of the data. Assaults were the most committed crime in the
first two years while robberies were the most committed crime in the final two years. Overall,
murder was the least committed crime compared to robberies and assaults.
(c) Make up a problem that uses the information on the graph to find other (not given)
information.
**Only one question needs to be asked, but here are several examples** Which type of crime
had the highest number of incidents in 2009? Which type of crime had the least number of
incidents in 2010? Between which two years did the number of murders increase the most?
How many more robberies than assaults happened in 2011? Which type of crime increased in
number of incidents from 2010 to 2011? Which type of crime decreased in number of incidents
from 2009 to 2010? Which type of crime stayed the same in number of incidents from 2011 to
2012?
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MM255 Business Math
Unit 3 Instructor Graded Project
General Suggestions for comments to students:


Please review your graphs to be sure they are the style requested by the instructor
Graph Examples
o Circle Graph Example:
Length of Fish in Inches
1
14 25
25
2
3
27
4
23
5
21
6
29
18
7
34
8
22
9
http://www.pegsgraphs.com/
July 4, 20__
o Bar Graph Example:
Length of Fish in Inches
40
34
35
30
25
29
27
25
23
22
21
25
18
20
14
15
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
http://www.pegsgraphs.com/
July 4, 20__
o Line Graph Example:
4
MM255 Business Math
Unit 3 Instructor Graded Project
Length of Fish in Inches
40
35
34
30
29
27
25
25
20
25
23
22
21
18
15
14
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
http://www.pegsgraphs.com/
July 4, 20__


Please be sure to cite all graph sources
Graph explanations often include items such as:
o Type of data explored
o Comments on variation and/or exceptional information
o Frequency or relative frequency
5