Lesson 5

Discover

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.

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?

Save your responses in your course folder.

Share 1

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?