Chapter 2

Descriptive statistics

Exploratory
data Assume all data sets
analysis are from samples.

Aim – get info about

pop.
Line Graph (Usually) shows the change in the value of a
characteristic over time.

Example:
Reported cases
of tetanus in
France
 Bar
Charts C
O C
M O
S P M
3 Types I O P
M N O
P E U
L N N
E T D
 Simple bar chart – Only totals are shown

Example
The weekly sales (in units)
at a car dealership are
shown in the table below.
Component bar chart
Each bar is composed of segments. The segments represent the portions
each component contributes to the whole.

Example
Suppose there are 3 salesmen.
The individual sales are shown
in the table below.
Multiple/compound bar chart – Each component is represented by a sequence
of bars. Comparisons between the trends of components is possible.

Jean – There is a definite

upwards trend in terms of
sales (the line goes upwards)

Bob – Despite the slight dips

the sales seem to be fairly
constant.

Simpiwe – The sales seem to

be fairly constant. In the
compound bar chart it is easy
to mistake this as an upwards
trend.
Pareto Chart Combines a bar graph and a line graph

Shows the
Drawn in descending cumulative totals
size order

In this way the chart Example

visually depicts which Types of
situations are more complaints
significant received by a
company
 40 + 35 + 11
40 + 35

40 + 35 + 11 + 9

40 + 35 + 11 + 9 + 5
 The most common problem
relates to documents. These
complaints account for 40% of
the complaints.

75% of complaints
relate to documents
and product quality.
If the company
wanted to reduce the
number of
complaints it could
focus on just these
two areas.
If the company wanted to give bonuses to employees who are performing
their jobs well (as measured by the number of complaints received), it is
easily seen that employees doing packing and delivery could get bonuses.
 A circle divided into “slices”/components. The size
Pie Chart shows how much it contributes to the whole.

Example: Energy production by source

(0.1) x (360) = 36
 Using Excel to construct graphs

Select your Select Choose the

data with Select the Recommended
‘Insert’ tab desired chart
headings Charts
 If you want to select
Line graph another chart.

STEP 1: Select cell

range A2:B12

STEP 2: Select
‘Insert’ Tab

STEP 3: Select
Recommended
Charts

STEP 4: Choose
the desired Chart

STEP 5: Click OK
Line graph Chart Styles can be
easily changed

You can add:

Chart Elements
Chart Styles
Chart Filters
 Bar Graph Change it to
a Pie Chart

STEP 1: Select cell range A2:B7

STEP 2: Select ‘Insert’ Tab

STEP 3: Select Recommended Charts

STEP 4:
Choose the
desired
Chart

STEP 5:
Click OK
 Compound Bar Chart

Can easily change to

Stacked Bar Graph

How do we
remove the
Totals from
our selection?
Notice that the
totals have also
been plotted
Click on your Chart 2
1 Click on
‘Select
The “Design”
Data’
Tab will be
activated

3 Untick Totals Box

4 New Chart is created

Pie Chart Chart Styles can be
easily changed

You can add:

Chart Elements
Chart Styles
Chart Filters
 Pareto Chart
STEP 1 , STEP 2 , STEP 3

STEP 4: Choose “All Charts” tab.

STEP 5: Choose Histogram

STEP 6:
Choose this chart.
This scale for the bars

This scale for the line

Dot Plot • Shows patterns in data sets
• Good for small data sets

If there are
Draw a data points
Mark dots at
Find the min suitable with the
the positions
and max section of same value,
of the data
values the number stack their
points
line dots on one
another
Example
The data set below gives the weights (kg) for 14 adult dogs treated
yesterday at a vet.
9, 8, 7, 4, 9, 8, 6, 9, 7, 9, 10, 8, 10, 5

min max

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
 • Used for quantitative data sets
Stem and leaf plot • Shows patterns/shape of data
sets

Choose the
Arrange the
stem and
data in
ascending
leaf units Plot 
(make a
order
key)
Example: Consider the following data set
3, 3, 11, 12, 16, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 25, 36, 37, 42, 61

Step 1: done

Step 2:
Notice that the largest value is made up of “tens” and “ones”
61 = 6 “tens” and 1 “one”
23 = 2 “tens” and 3 “ones”

So make the stem “tens” and the leaves “ones”.

Step 3: Draw

Key: 36 = 3|6
We found this in
Step 2
 Stem and Leaf Plot
Min is 3 Stem = ‘tens’
Max is 61 Leaves = ‘ones’
Enter data

Choose the
“Sort & Filter” Choose the “Sort
option on the Smallest to
‘Home’ tab Largest” option
 To insert the line:

Select cell range C3:C9

Select Font sub folder

on Home tab.

Insert Key:
1|2 = 12 Click on Borders

Select Right Border

 Back-to-back stem and leaf plots

Example Compare 2
You are on diet but will be going out data sets
for breakfast with friends. You can
choose from 2 restaurants.
Which restaurant will you choose?

The fat content of 14 breakfasts from each

restaurant is on the following slide.
 Restaurant 1:
6, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 34

Restaurant 2:
26, 28, 28, 32, 35, 36, 37, 39, 42, 44, 44, 45, 45, 46

R1 – Will be set up
The largest value is made up of the “normal” way
“tens” and “ones”

46: 4 tens and 6 ones Key:

6: no tens and 6 ones
Let the stem be tens and the leaves
be ones.
Restaurant 1: 2|5 = 25
Restaurant 2: 9|3 = 39
R2 – Will be set up
“backwards”
 The leaves still run from smallest on Key:
the left and largest on the right Restaurant 1: 2|5 = 25
Restaurant 2: 9|3 = 39
Restaurant 2 Restaurant 1

Restaurant 2 Restaurant 1

26, 28, 28, 6, 7, 12,

32, 35, 36, 13, 17, 18,
37, 39, 42, 20, 21, 21,
44, 44, 45, 24, 26, 28,
45, 46 30, 34

Interpretation: The values (fat content) for Restaurant 1 seem to be smaller

than those of Restaurant 2. So you should go to Restaurant 1 – you are more likely
to pick a breakfast that has a lower fat content.