Print this chapterPrint this chapter

Lesson 5

1. Lesson 5

1.4. Discover

Mathematics 30-3 Module 4

Module 4: Statistics

 

Discover
 

This is a photo of a boy and girl holding a cellphone, possibly reading a text message.

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

How can you describe where you rank in something? When looking at the height of someone, you can say that he or she is the tallest person in the family, but would he or she be the tallest person in the class at school? In Try This 1 you will explore how you are able to rank cellphone use.

 

Try This 1

 

Two students in a rural high school math class have gathered data on the number of text messages sent by their classmates in the month of June. Use the information in the table to answer the questions.

 

Classmate

Number of Text Messages Sent in June

Alex

488

Billy

4055

Courtney

2957

Duke

1763

Elone

0

Frank

2431

Gillian

2490

Hillary

127

Ingrid

7998

 

  1. Rank the data from lowest to highest.
  2. Assuming that you have a cellphone with the ability to text, estimate how many text messages you would send.
  3. Where in the table of data would you fit?

course folder Save your responses in your course folder.

 

Share 1

 

Did You Know?

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), Canadians sent 19.5 billion person-to-person text messages from April to June 2011. This represents a growth of 8.3% above the 18 billion text messages sent in January to March 2011. This is an astounding 37.5 billion texts sent in the first half of the year 2011! Text messaging increased over 60% from the year 2009 to 2010. With this sort of growth rate, it makes you wonder how much more it has grown since then!

With a partner or in a group, discuss your responses to Try This 1 and answer the following questions.

  1. Suppose you wanted to know where you rank compared to the other students. How would you describe your position of rank?
  2. Presume a cellphone company has collected these statistics to help it determine a text messaging plan for teenagers. The company wants to design a plan that includes enough free text messages that approximately three-quarters of its customers do not need to pay for messages that exceed their plan allowance. Assuming the data in the table is typical of teens, what number do you suggest the company use and why?
course folder Place a summary of your discussion in your course folder.