Ask a real question, watch the dots land, and find the story in the shape.
REMEMBER: A statistical question expects VARIED answers.
A dataset has a shape worth seeing before you compute anything. The
mean is a balance point — one far-off value (an outlier)
pulls it hard, while the median barely moves. Center tells you the
typical value; spread (MAD, IQR) tells you how much the values vary.
Part 1 · The See-Saw Mean
The class asked a real question: How many seconds can we hold a plank?
Each dot is one student's time. The triangle ▲ under the number line is the
mean — it sits where the dots would balance. Add a dot, or drop in
a far-away outlier, and watch the balance point lurch while the
median (the gold line) barely budges.
Part 2 · Predict the Playground
Two kinds of challenge rotate. Sometimes: is this a statistical question?
Sometimes: an outlier is coming — which measure moves more?
Commit your answer, then see the reveal.
Correct calls: 0
Part 3 · Data Machines
Three machines turn a dataset into its summary. Type numbers separated by commas,
or use a preset — each machine shows every step.
Enter the data. The machine finds the mean, median, range, IQR, and MAD — the single-number summaries of center and spread.
One dataset, three pictures. Switch views and see what each display reveals — and hides.
A complete data summary answers five things (6.SP.5). Pick a scenario and the machine writes the full report — and recommends center & spread measures based on the SHAPE.
Part 4 · Data Detective Quiz
Question 1 of 10Score: 0
📗 Word Box
Statistical question
A question that anticipates VARIED answers, like "How tall are the students?" — not "How tall am I?"
Distribution
The overall pattern of a dataset — its center, spread, and shape, seen all at once on a number line.
Mean
The balance point: add all values and divide by how many. One outlier pulls it strongly.
Median
The middle value when the data is in order. It resists outliers — it barely moves when one arrives.
Outlier
A value far from the rest. It lurches the mean but leaves the median nearly still.
Range & IQR
Range = max − min (whole spread). IQR = Q3 − Q1 (the spread of the middle half, ignoring extremes).
MAD
Mean Absolute Deviation: the average distance of the values from the mean — one number for spread.
Dot plot · histogram · box plot
Three number-line displays. Dot plots show every value; histograms group into bins; box plots show the five-number summary.