6.SP.2 Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its
center, spread, and overall shape.
6.SP.3 Recognize that a measure of center for a numerical data set summarizes all of its values with a single number, while a
measure of variation describes how its values vary with a single number.
6.SP.4 Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots, histograms, and box plots.
TASK: You are an employee at a small company. In this company, there are 10 employees who make
$15,000/yr, one manager who makes $100,000/yr, and one CEO who makes $2,000,000/yr. An
employee complained about the salaries to the Department of Labor and the company was brought
under investigation. The CEO responded to the Department of Labor saying:
"The average salary in my company is $187,500. There is no need for concern."
The Data
Employee 2
Employee 3
Employee 4
Employee 5
Employee 6
Employee 1
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
Employee 7
Employee 8
Employee 9
Employee 10
Manager
CEO
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
$100,000
$2,000,000
Day 1
I.
Which measure of central tendency did the CEO use to describe his company's salaries? (Mean,
Median, Mode)
Was the CEO telling the truth? Explain.
Was the CEO's response a fair description of what is happening in the company?
II.
II.