Maths Terms for 11-13 Yr Olds

A measure of spread in statistics. The difference between the greatest value and the least value in a set of numerical data.

Data as they are collected, unprocessed.

A common property or connection between two or more variables. Example: in a linear graph of the form y = 2x, there is a linear relationship between x and y. For every x, y is half the size. Compare with 'correlation'.

A subset of a population. By carrying out a random survey of some school pupils for example, the pupils you survey would make up the sample, and all the pupils in that school would make up that population.

In statistics, samples are used to make inferences (estimated conclusions) about a larger population without having to survey the whole population.

A graph on which paired observations are plotted and which may indicate a relationship between the variables. Example: The heights of a number of people could be plotted against their arm span measurements. If height is roughly related to arm span, the points that are plotted will tend to lie along a line.

A format for displaying grouped data. Class intervals form the stem and all observations are listed in order against them, forming the leaves. The numbers 29, 16, 18, 8, 4, 16, 27, 19, 13, 15 could be displayed as:

The 'class interval' is the tens digit of the numbers. The diagram resembles a histogram on its side.

Where a population has been divided into strata based on common characteristics, a random sample drawn from each of the strata. Example: for the purposes of a school survey the pupils might be divided into age groups. The size of the sample drawn at random from each age group might be proportional to the relative sizes of the different age group for greater precision.

To make marks to represent objects counted, and record these marks in a table (tally chart).

A branching, decision diagram in which probabilities may be assigned to each branch and used to determine the probability of any outcome of combined or compound events.

Not changing; remaining constant. Uniform acceleration, for example, would be to increase speed at a constant rate. Gravitational acceleration on Earth is uniform up to the point of terminal velocity- a falling body gains an extra 9.8 metres per second of speed every second.