Question

what is the general shape of the data?
○ skewed
○ symmetric
○ constant
○ many peaks and valleys
done
weight of male dogs (lb.)
stems
4 | 5
5 | 0 2 8
0 | 2 8
7 | 2 8
8 | 1
9 | 5
leaves
8|1 represents 81

Explanation:

To determine the shape of the data from the stem - and - leaf plot, we first list out all the data points. The stem - and - leaf plot for the weight of male dogs (lb) is as follows:

• Stem 4, leaf 5: 45
• Stem 5, leaves 0, 2, 8: 50, 52, 58
• Stem 6, leaves 2, 8: 62, 68
• Stem 7, leaves 2, 8: 72, 78
• Stem 8, leaf 1: 81
• Stem 9, leaf 5: 95

Now, we analyze the distribution. A symmetric distribution has data evenly spread around a central point, with similar frequencies on either side of the center. A skewed distribution has more data on one side. A constant distribution would have the same frequency for each value, and a distribution with many peaks and valleys has multiple local maxima and minima.

Looking at our data points: 45, 50, 52, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78, 81, 95. We can see that the data is spread in a way that there is a relatively even increase and the frequencies (number of data points in each stem group) are somewhat balanced around the middle values (around 60 - 70). There is no long tail on one side that would indicate skewness, there are not multiple peaks (only one general peak area), and the frequencies are not constant. So the data is symmetric.

Answer:

symmetric