Understanding Data

Data is everywhere! Whether you're tracking your sleep, the number of steps you walk, or analyzing sports scores, understanding how to summarize and describe data is crucial.

Types of Data

• Categorical data: Labels or names (e.g., colors, brands).
• Quantitative data: Numbers that can be measured (e.g., height, test scores).

Describing Data Sets

We use measures like mean (average), median (middle value), and mode (most frequent value) to summarize data. Range, quartiles, and standard deviation help describe the spread.

Visualizing Data

Graphs help us see patterns quickly:

• Histograms: Show distributions for quantitative data.
• Bar charts: Compare categories.
• Boxplots: Show spread and outliers.

Why It Matters

Describing data helps us spot trends, make comparisons, and ask better questions about the world.