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Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs — HS Statistics practice questions

11 multiple-choice questions and 40 flashcards on Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs, about 7% of the HS Statistics bank. Every one carries a written rationale.

Written and maintained by Nick Burton · last updated 2026-08-22 · how we write and review questions

What this chapter covers

Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs is one of 7 chapters in CoStudy's HS Statistics bank, and it holds 11 of the bank's 150 multiple-choice questions — roughly 7% of the total. That proportion is not arbitrary: chapters follow the certifying body's published exam outline, and the number of questions in each is set by that domain's published weight, so the share of your practice time this chapter takes matches the share of the real exam it accounts for.

Studying by chapter is worth doing once you have a diagnostic score. A single overall percentage tells you whether you are close; it does not tell you which domain is dragging. Working a weak chapter in isolation, and re-testing it in isolation, is the fastest way to move a score that has stalled — and it is why the mock exams in CoStudy report by domain rather than as one number.

Free Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs practice questions

4 questions drawn from this chapter, with the full rationale shown — the controlling principle behind the right answer, and why each wrong option tempts and fails.

What is the MEAN of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12?

  1. 6
  2. 10
  3. 8 (sum 40, count 5; mean = 40/5 = 8)
  4. 12
  5. 40

Answer: C — 8 (sum 40, count 5; mean = 40/5 = 8)

Mean: arithmetic average = sum/count = 40/5 = 8. Measure of central tendency. Sensitive to outliers. Use median for skewed data.

Which is a MEASURE of CENTRAL TENDENCY?

  1. Standard deviation
  2. Range
  3. Median (along with mean and mode)
  4. Variance
  5. Quartile

Answer: C — Median (along with mean and mode)

Central tendency: mean, median, mode (typical/central value). Spread: range, IQR, variance, SD. Position: percentile, quartile. Categorize correctly.

What is the RANGE of 4, 8, 10, 15, 20?

  1. 4
  2. 16 (max - min = 20 - 4)
  3. 20
  4. 10
  5. 11.4

Answer: B — 16 (max - min = 20 - 4)

Range = max - min. 20 - 4 = 16. Simplest measure of spread. Limited because uses only two extreme values. IQR (Q3-Q1) more robust.

For the dataset {3, 7, 8, 12, 20}, which value is closest to the standard deviation (using the population formula)?

  1. 2.0
  2. 4.5
  3. 5.8
  4. 8.5

Answer: C — 5.8

C) Mean = 10. Deviations: -7, -3, -2, 2, 10 → squares 49, 9, 4, 4, 100 = 166. Variance = 166/5 = 33.2; SD = √33.2 ≈ 5.76. A/B) Underestimates ignoring the extreme value. D) Confuses range or sum of |deviations|.

Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs flashcards

4 cards from the 40 in this chapter.

Variance?

Average of squared deviations from mean.

Skewness directions?

Right-skewed: tail extends right (mean > median). Left-skewed: tail extends left (mean < median).

Population vs sample?

Population: whole group of interest. Sample: subset actually measured. Statistics use samples to estimate population parameters.

Quantitative vs categorical data?

Quantitative: numerical (height, age). Categorical: groups (gender, color).

Practise the full chapter

These are a sample. The full Describing Data with Numbers and Graphs chapter runs 51 items with per-chapter progress tracking, on the web and in the iOS app.

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Other HS Statistics chapters

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