Do you know a bat always takes a left turn while leaving a cave. This was just an example of a type of data that I shared with you. Data can be of several types: data that you input into a computer program to get an output; it can also be statistics of a country's population. In fact, this information that you are reading at the moment can also be classified as data.
Once you get your fundamentals in place, you will be acquainted with the various types of data, and even be tempted to solve our data examples at the end of the chapter.
Lesson Plan
What is Meant by Data?
Data in math can be any information or fact. It can be a number, an observation, an alphabet, or any collective knowledge about anything.
Example:
- A set of numbers such as \({1, 2, 3, 4, 5}\)
- The list of student names in a class
- Physical attributes such as age, height, weight, etc.
Data handling refers to the process of gathering, recording, and presenting information in a way that is helpful to others. Data is usually represented in the form of pictographs, bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, line graphs, etc.
Below given are the images that show different ways to represent data:
Pictograph
Pie-Chart
Bar-graph
Line-graph
Histogram
What Are The Different Types of Data
Talking about types of data, there are mainly two types of data:
-
Qualitative Data - As the name itself suggests quality and quality means having uniqueness. Qualitative data is a type of data that can be observed and recorded. For example Gender, phone numbers, citizenship, etc.
Qualitative Data is further classified as:
- Nominal Data - It is a type of data mostly used for naming something or labeling or in classification. It is also called "named data". For example gender, country, race, eye color, hair color, hairstyle, etc.
An example is shown in the form of an image given below:
- Ordinal Data - It is a type of data that is named, ordered both, and a scale(range) is used. For example ranking in the class First, Second, Third.
An example is shown in the form of an image given below:
-
Quantitative Data - As the name suggests it deals with quantity and quantity is related to numbers. It is also known as numeric data. For example the number of bananas in a dozen, the number of candies in a box, etc.
Quantitative Data is further classified as:
-
Discrete Data - This type of data takes values that can be counted such as counting the number of fruits on a tree, the number of students in a class, etc.
An example is shown in the form of an image given below:
- Continuous Data - This type of data takes specific values that can be measured and fall under a specific range such as weight, length, temperature, speed, etc.
An example is shown in the form of an image given below:
Use this interesting simulation:
Explain Primary And Secondary Data
Primary Data is a type of data that is gathered by the individual.
For example, The teacher giving an oral test and writing the marks.
More examples are letters, records, autobiographies, etc.
Secondary data is a type of data that is gathered by someone else and used somewhere else.
For example, Another teacher using the marks obtained in an oral test for evaluation.
More examples: newspapers, encyclopedias, biographies, etc.
Check out the interesting simulation given below:
- The first step to collect data is to observe it.
- Make sure under which category your data falls while recording.
- It is important to make use of a combination of the types of data to improve any type of evaluation.
Solved Examples
| Example 1 |
Charlie went to the supermarket with his mom to buy some fruits. He bought a dozen bananas, a pound of apples, and 500 ounces of grapes.
Can you tell what type of data can be used to observe what he purchased?
Solution
The data shows that Charlie got some bananas, apples, and grapes. Each fruit has been measured as well.
The type of data used here is Quantitative Data.
| \(\therefore\) Quantitative Data is used. |
| Example 2 |
One day while sitting with her friend Mia thought of playing a game "name, place animal, or thing".
Can you tell what type of data they are going to use while playing?
Solution
The game that Mia is playing involves the name of places, animals, things all this type of data is unique.
And we know the data which is unique comes under Qualitative Data.
| \(\therefore\) Qualitative Data is used. |
| Example 3 |
Emma's teacher conducted an evaluation of her class based on their performance in different activities and gave scores on a scale ranging from \(0\)-\(10\).
Can you tell which type of data the teacher is using to give them scores?
Solution
As given in the questions the teacher is using a range of marks,
So when there is a range used for sure the type of data used is Ordinal Data.
| \(\therefore\) Ordinal Data is used |
- Write something about yourself and tell what type of data you used while doing so.
- When you go to school which means of transportation you use? Also, tell the type of data used.
Interactive Questions
Here are a few activities for you to practice.
Select/Type your answer and click the "Check Answer" button to see the result.
Let's Summarize!
The mini-lesson is targeted in the fascinating concept of Data. The math journey around factors starts with what a student already knows, and goes on to creatively crafting a fresh concept in the young minds. Done in a way that not only it is relatable and easy to grasp, but also will stay with them forever. Here lies the magic with Cuemath.
About Cuemath
At Cuemath, our team of math experts is dedicated to making learning fun for our favorite readers, the students!
Through an interactive and engaging learning-teaching-learning approach, the teachers explore all angles of a topic.
Be it worksheets, online classes, doubt sessions, or any other form of relation, it’s the logical thinking and smart learning approach that we at Cuemath believe in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is age categorical or quantitative data?
Age is both categorical(qualitative) and quantitative data.
2. Is birth month qualitative or quantitative data?
As there are 12 months exactly. It is qualitative data as here it is describing an attribute.
3. What type of data is ranking?
Ranking is an ordinal type of data.