3.2 Histograms

A histogram is a chart that depicts the frequency of a numerical variable in non-overlapping intervals, called 'bins', that span the entire range of the data. In essence, a histogram is a pictorial representation of a frequency table. While we have used bar charts for categorical variables, a histogram would be the equivalent kind of chart for numerical data. Histograms can be useful because at a glance, we can quickly see the shape of the data. For example, does it look bell-shaped, or does it seem to be skewed to the left or to the right?

Below is a histogram displaying the distribution of heights among the students:

Referring to the histogram above, choose the correct statement below:

The histogram indicates that the distribution of heights is highly skewed The histogram indicates that the distribution of heights is roughly symmetrical (bell-shaped)

The histogram indicates that the distribution of heights is roughly symmetrical (bell-shaped)

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These notes have been prepared by Amanda J. Shaker. The copyright for the material in these notes resides with the author named above, with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and with La Trobe University. Copyright in this work is vested in La Trobe University including all La Trobe University branding and naming. Unless otherwise stated, material within this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Non Derivatives License CC BY-NC-ND