CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.B.3
The standard
Informally assess the degree of visual overlap of two numerical data distributions with similar variabilities, measuring the difference between the centers by expressing it as a multiple of a measure of variability.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics · Statistics and Probability
What this standard means
Students compare two numerical data sets by looking at their graphs, centers, spread, and overlap. They need to say whether the groups seem clearly different or mostly similar. They also need to describe the difference between centers using a measure of variability, such as mean absolute deviation.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “The means are 6 apart, and the MAD is about 2, so the difference is about 3 MADs. The plots have little overlap.” Common trouble spots are focusing only on the means, ignoring spread, or using vague claims like “one is bigger” without evidence.
Ways to teach it
- Hands-on: Give pairs two dot plots of paper airplane flight distances, then have them mark means, estimate MAD, and compare overlap.
- Prompt: Write three sentences comparing two class quiz-score distributions, using center, variability, and visual overlap as evidence.
- Quick assessment: Show two box or dot plots and ask, “Are these groups noticeably different? Use the mean difference and MAD.”
- Real-world connection: Compare heights of two sports teams or wait times at two lunch lines, then decide if the difference is meaningful.
Plan a lesson for CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.B.3
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Related standards
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5d
Relating the choice of measures of center and variability to the shape of the data distribution and the context in which the data were gathered.
- CCSS.Math.Content.7.SP.B.4
Use measures of center and measures of variability for numerical data from random samples to draw informal comparative inferences about two populations.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5c
Giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any over...
- CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A.2
Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean) and spread (interquartile range, standard deviation) of two or...