Histograms and dotplots

Math

Definition

Two types of graphs used to display the distribution of quantitative data. A histogram uses bars to show data grouped into intervals (bins), while a dot plot places individual dots above a number line for each data value.

Examples

  • A histogram of test scores showing how many students scored in each 10-point range
  • A dot plot of the number of pets owned by each student in a class
  • Comparing the shape of a grade distribution to see if it's symmetric or skewed

Related Terms

Bar graphs Stem-and-leaf plots Mean median mode Standard deviation

Study This Concept

Practice histograms and dotplots with free review games in these units:

AP Statistics Unit 1: Exploring One-Variable Data