--- title: "Statistical analysis vocabulary" description: "Read, write, and use the vocabulary of statistical analysis (mean, median, mode, range, frequency, data, sample, average, chart, table, graph, pie chart, scatter graph, correlation) with an understand" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/statistical-analysis-vocabulary-mt_fmm-P17Vka source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/statistical-analysis-vocabulary-mt_fmm-P17Vka.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Statistical analysis vocabulary Read, write, and use the vocabulary of statistical analysis (mean, median, mode, range, frequency, data, sample, average, chart, table, graph, pie chart, scatter graph, correlation) with an understanding of what each term describes Subject: Mathematics · Area: Data & Statistics · Ages 9 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/statistical-analysis-vocabulary-mt_fmm-P17Vka ## Ready when they can - Correctly define and calculate the mean, median, mode, and range of a small data set - Use 'outlier' correctly to identify a value that doesn't fit the pattern, and explain its effect on the mean - Use 'correlation' correctly when describing the relationship shown in a scatter graph ## Lesson: Words for describing data You have read charts before. Data is collected information, such as pet counts. A sample is part of the group you want to study. Frequency means how many times a value occurs. *(drawing: The pet counts are 1, 2, 2, 3, 7. The frequency of 2 is 2.)* **Example.** To find the mean, add every value and divide by the number of values. For the pet counts, 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 7 = 15. There are 5 values, so 15 divided by 5 = 3. Divide by the count, not the largest value. Average often means mean, but people also use it for other measures of centre. For the median, order values from smallest to largest. With an odd number, choose the middle value. With an even number, add the two middle values and divide by 2. For 2, 4, 7, 10, use 4 and 7. Their total is 11. Divide 11 into two equal shares: share 10 to give 5 each, then share the last 1 to give half each. So 11 divided by 2 = 5.5, or five and a half. The mode is the value with the greatest frequency. In 1, 2, 2, 3, 7, the mode is 2. Values can tie for the greatest frequency. If every value occurs once, we say there is no mode. The range is largest minus smallest: 7 - 1 = 6. An outlier is a value far from the other values. In the pet counts, 7 stands apart. Without 7, the mean is 8 divided by 4 = 2. With 7, it is 3. A value above the mean raises it when added; one below lowers it. Compare the mean and median with the main group of values when describing a typical value. A table records information in rows and columns. Charts and graphs show data as pictures. A pie chart uses slices of a circle to show parts of a whole. A scatter graph uses one point for each pair of values. Its bottom axis need not show time. As values along the bottom increase, an upward trend shows positive correlation; a downward trend shows negative correlation. With no clear trend, say there is no clear correlation in the graph. Correlation describes a pattern between the paired values. It does not prove that one causes the other. A frequency table gives each value and how often it occurs. If 1 occurs twice and 3 occurs twice, the values are 1, 1, 3, 3. Their total is 8, and there are 4 values. The mean is 8 divided by 4 = 2. **Recap.** Mean uses the total and count. Median uses ordered positions. Mode uses frequency. Range uses the extremes. Correlation describes a pattern, not proof of a cause. ## Practice 17 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Bar charts and time graphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/bar-charts-and-time-graphs-mt_ChjMU2GDJa) ## Opens up - [Scatter Graphs & Correlation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scatter-graphs-and-correlation-mt_8atyuvPUZc) - [Calculating the mean](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/calculating-the-mean-mt_Cg8VPguS_V) - [Frequency tables, bar charts and pie charts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/frequency-tables-bar-charts-and-pie-charts-mt_eKJG-0eC6D) - [Comparing data sets with averages and range](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/comparing-data-sets-with-averages-and-range-mt_XSXnTQoQ4l)