All courses Math I · S-ID.1 50 of 59
Represent one-variable data with dot plots, histograms, and box plots.

Create a dot plot from a small data set

Problem
Construct the dot plot for data 2,2,3,5,5,5,6 using axis ticks 2 through 6 by 1. Give the axis ticks, count at each tick, total dots, and maximum stack.
Source statistical display: Which record correctly specifies the dot plot for data {2,2,3,5,5,5,6} using axis ticks 2 through 6 by 1? No requested counts, analysis, or box-plot conclusion is annotated. Open full size
Your answer
Show answer choicesAnswer choices Work through the mathematics first, then compare your reasoning.Select the answer that matches your work.
Answer choices
With a free account

See progress instead of guessing.

Gozunta keeps your results together so you can see what you have practiced and how it went.

Create a free account
With paid access

Take the session to paper.

Export learning sessions as spacious printable PDFs when pencil-and-paper practice works better.

Compare plans

Hint

List every tick in order, tally every datum once, then sum the frequencies back to n.

One dot represents one observation. A complete non-drawing specification includes zero-count ticks so spacing and gaps are preserved.

Solution walkthrough

01

Write every required axis tick

\[\text{axis}=2,3,4,5,6\]

The prompt fixes ticks from 2 through 6 by 1, so tick 4 must remain even though its frequency is zero.

02

Tally each data value

\[2:2;~3:1;~4:0;~5:3;~6:1\]

In 2,2,3,5,5,5,6, 2 occurs twice, 3 once, 4 never, 5 three times, and 6 once.

03

Check the total number of dots

\[2+1+0+3+1=7\]

The frequencies sum to the seven observations in the source data, so every value is counted exactly once.

04

Find the tallest stack

\[\text{maximum}~\text{frequency}=3~\text{at}~\text{value}~5\]

The stack over 5 has three dots, more than the stack over any other tick.

05

Report the complete dot-plot record

\[\text{axis}~=~2,3,4,5,6;~\text{counts}~=~{2:2,3:1,4:0,5:3,6:1};~\text{total}~\text{dots}~=~7;~\text{maximum}~\text{stack}~=~3~\text{dots}~\text{at}~5\]

This non-drawing specification preserves the axis, every frequency including the gap, the total, and the maximum stack.

+

Another way

  1. Mark off each datum from the raw list as it is added to a five-row frequency table, then convert each frequency to a vertical dot stack.

!

Common mistake

Do not omit tick 4. A zero-count tick preserves the equal spacing and makes the gap in the distribution explicit.

Worked statistical display: axis = 2,3,4,5,6; counts = {2:2,3:1,4:0,5:3,6:1}; total dots = 7; maximum stack = 3 dots at 5
axis = 2,3,4,5,6; counts = {2:2,3:1,4:0,5:3,6:1}; total dots = 7; maximum stack = 3 dots at 5