CHAPTER 8 : MEASURES OF DISPERSION FOR UNGROUPED DATA

8.1 DISPERSION

Pupils are able to :

8.1.1 Explain the meaning of dispersion

 Measures of dispersion tells us how the values of set of data are scattered.
 Dispersion is small if the data set has a small range and vice versa.
 Measures of dispersion of a set of data are quantitative measures such as range, interquartile
range, variance and standard deviation.
 To understand the dispersion of data, the difference between the largest value and the smallest
value is taken into consideration.
 If the difference between the values is large, it indicates that the data is widely dispersed and
vice versa.
8.2 MEASURES OF DISPERSION

Pupils are able to :

8.2.1 Determine the range, the interquartile range, variance and standard deviation as a measure to
describe dispersion of an ungrouped data.
EXAMPLES :

1. The data shows the number of books read by 20 pupils in a month.

10 12 14 18 18
18 10 15 10 12
17 10 16 13 12
15 10 18 14 12

Find the difference between the highest and the lowest number of books read in a month.

2. The data shows the heights, in cm, of the tallest pupil and the shortest pupil.

140 142 144 138 148

128 130 155 170 172
137 140 146 143 162
135 140 168 154 142

Find the difference between the highest and the lowest number of books read in a month.

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3. The dot-plot shows the scores obtained by 15 pupils in a competition.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Find the difference between the highest score and the lowest score of the competition.

4. The dot plot shows the marks obtained by a group of pupils in a Science quiz.

What is the difference between the highest marks and the lowest marks?
Find the range of each of the following set of data.

1. 2, 12, 11, 8, 10, 1

2. 2.8, 1.2, 12.4, 9.0, 14.3

3. 60, 35, 204, 80, 108, 120

4. Size of shoes 5 6 7 8
Number of pupils 3 8 4 2

5. Marks 80 85 90 95 100
Number of pupils 6 8 7 5 2

4. Number of books 2 4 6 8 10
Number of pupils 16 10 8 5 9
8.1.2 Compare and interpret dispersion of two or more sets of data based to the stem-and-leaf
plots and dot plots, and hence make conclusion.

Construct a stem-and-leaf plot based on each of the following sets of data.

1. 65 41 66 56 40 53 64 53 68 52

2. 25 36 47 33 49 26 19 26 48

3. 57 62 57 74 69 83 74 62 87
65 71 63 52 80 65 77 68 66
Marks of April monthly test Marks of May monthly test
3
4
5
6
7
4. The data shows the marks for the Mid
Mid-Year Test and the marks for End-of-Year
Year of 25 pupils in a
class.

(a) Draw a stem-and-leaf

leaf plot to display the distribution of the marks for Mid
Mid--Year Test and the
marks for the End-of-Year
Year Test.
(b) Based on the stem-and
and-leaf plot in (a), which test shows better pupils’ achievement? Justify
your answer.
1. The data shows the sizes of shoes worn by 20 pupils in two different clubs.

(a) Draw two dot plots with the same scale.

(b) Compare the two dot plots obtained in (a), which club has a wider dispersion?
Justify your answer.
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