Lesson 12

This lesson introduces the idea of using data from a sample of a population when it is impractical or impossible to gather data from every individual in the populations under study. Students consider whether the people in their class would be an adequate sample for several different questions and associated populations (MP3). While all of the answers given in this lesson are samples and may have some benefit to them, most of them are not the best way to select samples. In the next lesson, students learn about what makes some samples more representative of a population than others. In later lessons, students explore the best ways to try to obtain such samples.

Compute the mean and MAD for the length of the preferred names (if students do not go by their first name, use their nickname, middle name, etc.). Do the same for the last names of students in the class prior to the John Jacobjingleheimerschmidt activity.