Comparing Excursions
However, you are going to answer just one question: What type of power is most efficient for an excursion boat? We are measuring efficiency by the number of passengers a boat can carry. If a boat can carry more passengers, it can serve the recreational needs of more people at one time. In this way it is efficient. To answer this question, look at the information on your Worksheet. You will create a bar graph that shows how many passengers were carried by excursion boats that used different kinds of power. First you will need to categorize the trips into three groups: sail powered, steam powered, and diesel powered. On Worksheet 2: Analyzing Data, make a table with four columns along the top using types of power of the boats. List the excursion numbers 1-10 down the side of your table. Then list the number of passengers for each excursion that you recorded on your Data Collection Worksheet. Your table should look like the one below. Some of the data has been filled in for you as an example. In row one, for example, the number 100 is placed in the steam power column because 100 passengers can go on the steam powered Chesapeake at one time.
Determining the Median of a Column of Numbers Sometimes it is easier to compare data if you can find a number that all of the numbers in a column are most like, or a central tendency. For example, in our sample of excursion boats, you could compare just one number for each type of power. Then there will be no question about which is largest, smallest, and in the middle, or in other words, which type of power is most and least efficient. You need to find the median, or central tendency, for each of the three categories. Find the median by listing the numbers from smallest to largest. Then find the middle number in your list. This number is the median. If the middle of the list falls between two numbers, find the number that falls exactly between these two numbers. To do this, find the mean average of the two middle numbers. In other words, add the two numbers together and divide by 2. Look at the examples below.
Example One
Example Two Finding the median will let you compare the categories of excursion boats without comparing specific boats. It will allow you to see if the type of power an excursion boat used affected how many passengers it could carry. Now find the median for the three types of power of the excursion boats. Write it on the space provided on Worksheet #2: Analyzing Data. Graphing Your Data Once you have the median number of passengers for each type of power, make a bar graph to show the relationship of these numbers. Use Worksheet #3: Graphing Data. On the vertical side of your graph, write the label "median number of passengers." Choose a scale that will include all the numbers you have shown. On the bottom of the horizontal side of your graph, write the label "type of excursion boat." Write the labels "Steam," "Sail," and "Diesel" along this side of the graph. Now find the point on the vertical side of your graph that represents the median number of passengers each type of power carried. Draw a line across the appropriate part of the graph for each type of power. Fill in a rectangle below the line you drew in a different color for each power type. These colored bars represent the median numbers of passengers carried by each power type. The bars make it easy to compare these numbers. Now write a title for your graph. A title for a graph always includes information about the categories and numbers being compared. Your title should mention both the labels for your graph's axes. Now that you have finished your graph, write a mix and match statement telling the relationship between power type and number of passengers carried. Choose the appropriate words from the mix and match sentence below based on your graph and write it on the space provided on Worksheet #3. Write a sentence answering the question: What type of power is most efficient? Now complete Worksheet #3, Graphing the Data. Selecting an Excursion In this Maryland Exploration, you have worked as scientist in collecting, analyzing, and graphing data. This is an excellent way to gather information and can tell us a lot. However, we don't always make decisions based on this kind of data. For instance, you now know which type of power is most efficient for an excursion boat. This is excellent information if you are planning to start a business operating excursion boats. But as a traveler, you may choose your excursion based on other factors. Write a paragraph about which of the 10 excursion boat you would choose for a vacation. Which would be your favorite? You will need to consider what type of recreation you most enjoy. Do you like to be with many other people, or only a few? Do you like to watch machinery run? Do you like the idea of travelling on a large boat, or do you like to be closer to the water? Do you like the idea of travelling with only the noise of the wind and the water? Answering these questions will help you write a paragraph about your "favorite" excursion.
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