7 Analysis

7.1 Introduction

Charts, graphs and tables are all very helpful ways of representing a set of data. However, they are not the only ways of passing on information about data. This section looks at how you can analyse a set of data to summarise the given information as briefly and simply as possible.

Essentially, there are two features of a set of data that enable summarising: the average and the spread. This section starts by looking at what is meant by ‘average’. If you have already studied OpenLearn unit LDT_3 Working with Charts, Graphs and Tables, this will be familiar to you. However, we recommend that even if you do not read this part, you do try Activity 17. The section then considers frequency tables before moving on to look at spread.