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Grade 6 · Math

6th grade Center, spread and shape of data worksheet

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Center, spread and shape of data

Grade 6 Math Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. Jun made a dot plot of the number of stairs in the homes of some children. One dot is far from all the others. What is the range of the data without that dot?

  2. Kira plotted the number of marbles in some jars. One jar was packed to the lid. One dot is far from all the others. What is the range of the data without that dot?

  3. Noah plotted the number of cartwheels that some children did in one minute. One child got dizzy. One dot is far from all the others. What is the range of the data without that dot?

  4. Pia plotted the number of leaves collected by some children. One leaf collector went wild. One dot is far from all the others. What value is the peak, the value with the most dots?

  5. Bo made a dot plot of the number of minutes that some children practiced piano. A few children played with a metronome. How many dots are there in all?

  6. Jun made a dot plot of the number of chapters in the books some children are reading. Some chapters end on cliffhangers. How many dots are there in all?

  7. Esme plotted the number of bottle caps in some jars. One jar overflowed. The median is the middle dot, and the mean is the balance point of the dots. Which statement is true?

    • The mean is always the better typical value, because it uses every dot, even a far-away one
    • The far-away dot pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better typical value.
    • The biggest value is the best number to tell what is typical.
  8. Jun plotted the number of minutes that some children waited for the bus. The median is the middle dot, and the mean is the balance point of the dots. Which statement is true?

    • The far-away dot pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better typical value.
    • The biggest value is the best number to tell what is typical.
    • The mean is always the better typical value, because it uses every dot, even one far from the rest
  9. Kira plotted the number of pages in some picture books. One book was huge. The median is the middle dot, and the mean is the balance point of the dots. Which statement is true?

    • The far-away dot pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better typical value.
    • The biggest value is the best number to tell what is typical.
    • The mean is always the better typical value, because it uses every dot, including a far-away one
  10. Luz plotted the number of seeds in some packets. One packet was almost empty. The median is the middle dot, and the mean is the balance point of the dots. Which statement is true?

    • The mean is always the better typical value, because it uses every dot.
    • The far-away dot pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better typical value.
    • The biggest value is the best number to tell what is typical.
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6th grade Center, spread and shape of data worksheet – printable
Print: 123456

About this worksheet

Describing a data set. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can read the smallest value, the peak (the value with the most dots) and the range off a dot plot.
  • I can find a gap (an empty space between dots), a cluster and an outlier, and I know the empty start of the number line is not a gap and not data.
  • I can describe a dot plot in a sentence: where it runs from and to, where the dots bunch up, any gap, cluster or outlier.
  • I can find the range without an outlier, and I can say when the median is a better typical value than the mean.

Standard: 6.SP.A.2, 6.SP.A.3, 6.SP.B.5d

Words to know

dot plot: A number line with one dot for each value. Equal values stack up.

peak: The value with the tallest stack of dots. It is the mode.

range: How far the data stretch: biggest value minus smallest value.

gap: An empty space between two dots. The empty start of the line is not a gap.

cluster: A group of dots close together.

outlier: A dot far away from all the others.

typical value: A number that tells where most of the dots are.

median, mean: Median: the middle dot. Mean: the balance point of the dots. (Worked out in the next topic.)

Common mistakes

Your child gave the biggest value as the range. The range is how far the data stretch, so you subtract.

Your child treated the empty start of the number line as if it were data (or called it a gap). A gap is an empty space between two dots. Have them touch the first dot with a pencil: the smallest value is there, not at 0.

Your child picked a gap that is not the biggest. Ask them to compare the space between every pair of neighboring dots and find the widest one.

What to say

Ask: how far is it from the smallest dot to the biggest dot?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with center, spread and shape of data?

Your child gave the biggest value as the range. The range is how far the data stretch, so you subtract.

How can I help my child with center, spread and shape of data?

Ask: how far is it from the smallest dot to the biggest dot?

Are these 6th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 math

See all grade 6 math

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