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Math Coach Amy
Amy Ferguson Moncure

7th Grade Math ยท Unit 1

Statistical
Questions

Decide which questions expect answers that vary.

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Key Ideas Easy Medium Hard
What to Remember

Variability

A statistical question expects answers that can vary. It is answered with data from more than one person or object.

How old is my dog? is not statistical. How old are the dogs at this park? is statistical.

One fixed answer

A question can sound open and still have one fixed answer. How many days are in a week? does not vary.

If you ask about one case, such as this bicycle or my playlist, you are not collecting a set of answers.

A histogram needs numbers

A histogram uses numerical data. You record a number for each person or object.

Favorite color is a category. It can be a circle graph, not a histogram.

Level 1

Easy

Say yes or no, and give one reason.

Example
Is this a statistical question? How many wheels are on this bicycle?

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

It asks about one bicycle, so the count does not vary.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. It asks about one bicycle, so the count does not vary.

1
Is this a statistical question? How old are the dogs at this park?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

It asks about many dogs, and their ages can differ.

The answers can vary, so this is a statistical question.

Answer: Yes. It asks about many dogs, and their ages can differ.

2
Is this a statistical question? How many minutes does the bus ride take for the students in this class?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

Each student can have a different ride time.

The answers can vary, so this is a statistical question.

Answer: Yes. Each student can have a different ride time.

3
Is this a statistical question? How many days are in a week?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The answer is one fixed number. It does not vary from person to person.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. The answer is one fixed number. It does not vary from person to person.

4
Is this a statistical question? How many pages did each student in the reading group read last week?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

Each student can have a different page count.

The answers can vary, so this is a statistical question.

Answer: Yes. Each student can have a different page count.

5
Is this a statistical question? How many inches are in one foot?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The answer is one fixed measurement. It does not vary.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. The answer is one fixed measurement. It does not vary.

6
Is this a statistical question? How tall is each tomato plant in the class garden?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The plants can have different heights.

The answers can vary, so this is a statistical question.

Answer: Yes. The plants can have different heights.

7
Is this a statistical question? What time does the lunch period start at our school?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The schedule has one start time. The answer does not vary.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. The schedule has one start time. The answer does not vary.

8
Is this a statistical question? How many minutes are in one hour?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The answer is one fixed number. It does not vary.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. The answer is one fixed number. It does not vary.

9
Is this a statistical question? How many sides does a stop sign have?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

A stop sign has one fixed number of sides.

This is not a statistical question.

Answer: No. A stop sign has one fixed number of sides.

10
Is this a statistical question? How many points did each player on the team score?
Show Answer

A statistical question is answered with data from more than one person or object, and the answers can vary.

The players can score different numbers of points.

The answers can vary, so this is a statistical question.

Answer: Yes. The players can score different numbers of points.

Level 2

Medium

Rewrite the question so the answers can vary.

Example
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How old is my dog?

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One dog has one age. The dogs at the park can have many ages.

How old are the dogs at this park?

Answer: How old are the dogs at this park?

1
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How many minutes is my bus ride?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One ride is one number. The students in the class can have different ride times.

How many minutes is the bus ride for each student in this class?

Answer: How many minutes is the bus ride for each student in this class?

2
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How tall is this tomato plant?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One plant has one height. The plants in the garden can differ.

How tall is each tomato plant in the garden?

Answer: How tall is each tomato plant in the garden?

3
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How many songs are on my playlist?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One playlist is one count. Other playlists can have different counts.

How many songs are on each student's playlist?

Answer: How many songs are on each student's playlist?

4
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. What did I eat for lunch today?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One lunch is one answer. The students can choose different lunches.

What did each student eat for lunch today?

Answer: What did each student eat for lunch today?

5
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How many points did I score in the game?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One player has one total. The players can score different totals.

How many points did each player on the team score?

Answer: How many points did each player on the team score?

6
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How heavy is my backpack?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One backpack has one weight. The backpacks in the class can differ.

How heavy is each student's backpack?

Answer: How heavy is each student's backpack?

7
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How many birds were at the feeder at 8 AM today?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One moment gives one count. The watches can give different counts.

How many birds visit the feeder during each 10 minute watch this week?

Answer: How many birds visit the feeder during each 10 minute watch this week?

8
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. What is the temperature outside right now?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One moment has one reading. The days can have different readings.

What is the noon temperature on each day this month?

Answer: What is the noon temperature on each day this month?

9
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How many petals are on this daisy?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One daisy has one count. The daisies can differ.

How many petals are on each daisy in the garden?

Answer: How many petals are on each daisy in the garden?

10
Rewrite this so it asks for data from a group and the answers can vary. How long is this song?
Show Answer

Ask about more than one person or object, so the answers can vary.

One song has one length. The songs on the playlist can differ.

How long is each song on the class playlist?

Answer: How long is each song on the class playlist?

Level 3

Hard

Write a numerical question, and name the number you record.

Example
Topic: pets at the park. You want a histogram about the dogs at the park. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Age is a number, and the dogs can have different ages.

Question: How old are the dogs at this park?

Number: the age of each dog, in years

Answer: Question: How old are the dogs at this park? Number: the age of each dog, in years

1
Topic: bus rides. You want a histogram about the ride to school. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Minutes are numbers. Favorite seat is a category, so it is not the histogram question.

Question: How many minutes is the bus ride for each student?

Number: the ride time in minutes for each student

Answer: Question: How many minutes is the bus ride for each student? Number: the ride time in minutes for each student

2
Topic: the class garden. You want a histogram about the tomato plants. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Height is a measurement. Favorite vegetable is a category.

Question: How many inches tall is each tomato plant?

Number: the height of each plant, in inches

Answer: Question: How many inches tall is each tomato plant? Number: the height of each plant, in inches

3
Topic: a playlist. You want a histogram about the songs on the class playlist. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Length is a number. Favorite song is one category, not a histogram.

Question: How many seconds long is each song?

Number: the length of each song, in seconds

Answer: Question: How many seconds long is each song? Number: the length of each song, in seconds

4
Topic: pets at home. You want a histogram about families on your street. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

The count is a number. Favorite pet is a category.

Question: How many pets does each family have?

Number: the number of pets in each family

Answer: Question: How many pets does each family have? Number: the number of pets in each family

5
Topic: weather. You want a histogram about this month, not about a favorite season. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Temperature is a number. Favorite season is a category.

Question: What was the high temperature on each day?

Number: the high temperature each day, in degrees

Answer: Question: What was the high temperature on each day? Number: the high temperature each day, in degrees

6
Topic: a basketball game. You want a histogram about the players, not about a favorite sport. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Points are numbers. Favorite sport is a category.

Question: How many points did each player score?

Number: the points scored by each player

Answer: Question: How many points did each player score? Number: the points scored by each player

7
Topic: lunch. You want a histogram about lunch today, not about the favorite lunch. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Minutes are numbers. The lunch a student prefers is a category.

Question: How many minutes did each student spend eating lunch?

Number: the number of minutes each student spent eating

Answer: Question: How many minutes did each student spend eating lunch? Number: the number of minutes each student spent eating

8
Topic: band practice. You want a histogram about yesterday's practice. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Minutes are numbers. Favorite instrument is a category.

Question: How many minutes did each band student practice?

Number: the practice time in minutes for each student

Answer: Question: How many minutes did each band student practice? Number: the practice time in minutes for each student

9
Topic: tomato plants. You want a histogram about the harvest from each plant. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

The count is a number for each plant.

Question: How many tomatoes did each plant grow?

Number: the number of tomatoes on each plant

Answer: Question: How many tomatoes did each plant grow? Number: the number of tomatoes on each plant

10
Topic: lunch choices. A classmate asks, What is your favorite lunch? That question cannot be a histogram. Write a question that a histogram could answer, and name the number you would record.
Show Answer

A histogram needs numerical data from more than one case. A favorite is a category, so it does not belong in a histogram.

Favorite lunch is a category. A histogram needs a number from each student.

Question: How many items did each student put on the lunch tray?

Number: the number of items on each tray

Answer: Question: How many items did each student put on the lunch tray? Number: the number of items on each tray

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