Data Handling (Mean and Median) | A

Question 1

Individual project: Make your own activity strip for different days of the week.

(i) Do you eat and sleep at regular times every day? Typically how long do you spend outdoors?

(ii) Calculate the average time spent per activity. Represent this average day using a strip.

(iii) Similarly, track the activities of any adult at home. Compare your data with theirs.

Question diagram 1
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Solution
Understand the Question
  • This project involves collecting and analyzing time-use data over a full week (77 days).
  • A complete week consists of 7×24=168 hours7 \times 24 = 168\text{ hours}, so the sum of all tracked activities across the week must equal 168 hours168\text{ hours}.
  • The daily average time for each activity is calculated using the formula: Average Time=Total Time over 7 Days7\text{Average Time} = \dfrac{\text{Total Time over 7 Days}}{7}
  • The total of all daily averages must sum to 24 hours24\text{ hours}, which is visually represented using a 24 cm24\text{ cm} activity strip (1 cm=1 hour1\text{ cm} = 1\text{ hour}).

(i) Do you eat and sleep at regular times every day? Typically how long do you spend outdoors?

Step 1 · Analyze Daily Routine and Outdoor Time

From the recorded weekly schedule, eating and sleeping occur at relatively consistent and regular hours every day.

Based on the tracked sample data: Total outdoor time over 7 days=15 hours\text{Total outdoor time over 7 days} = 15\text{ hours}

Average outdoor time per day=1572.14 hours\text{Average outdoor time per day} = \dfrac{15}{7} \approx 2.14\text{ hours}

Answer

(i) Yes, eating and sleeping occur at regular times each day. The typical time spent outdoors is approximately 2.14 hours2.14\text{ hours} per day.

(ii) Calculate the average time spent per activity. Represent this average day using a strip.

Step 1 · Record Weekly Activity Totals

Diagram 1

Sample total hours recorded across 7 days (Ttotal, activityT_{\text{total, activity}}):

  • Sleeping: 60 hours60\text{ hours}
  • School: 35 hours35\text{ hours}
  • Homework: 10 hours10\text{ hours}
  • Playing Outdoors: 15 hours15\text{ hours}
  • Screen Time: 20 hours20\text{ hours}
  • Eating: 14 hours14\text{ hours}
  • Other Activities: 14 hours14\text{ hours}

Verify total weekly hours: 60+35+10+15+20+14+14=168 hours60 + 35 + 10 + 15 + 20 + 14 + 14 = 168 \text{ hours}

Step 2 · Calculate Average Time per Activity

Using the formula Aactivity=Ttotal, activity7A_{\text{activity}} = \dfrac{T_{\text{total, activity}}}{7}:

  • Average Sleeping Time: ASleeping=60 hours78.57 hoursA_{\text{Sleeping}} = \dfrac{60 \text{ hours}}{7} \approx 8.57 \text{ hours}

  • Average School Time: ASchool=35 hours7=5.00 hoursA_{\text{School}} = \dfrac{35 \text{ hours}}{7} = 5.00 \text{ hours}

  • Average Homework Time: AHomework=10 hours71.43 hoursA_{\text{Homework}} = \dfrac{10 \text{ hours}}{7} \approx 1.43 \text{ hours}

  • Average Playing Outdoors Time: AOutdoors=15 hours72.14 hoursA_{\text{Outdoors}} = \dfrac{15 \text{ hours}}{7} \approx 2.14 \text{ hours}

  • Average Screen Time: AScreen Time=20 hours72.86 hoursA_{\text{Screen Time}} = \dfrac{20 \text{ hours}}{7} \approx 2.86 \text{ hours}

  • Average Eating Time: AEating=14 hours7=2.00 hoursA_{\text{Eating}} = \dfrac{14 \text{ hours}}{7} = 2.00 \text{ hours}

  • Average Other Activities Time: AOther=14 hours7=2.00 hoursA_{\text{Other}} = \dfrac{14 \text{ hours}}{7} = 2.00 \text{ hours}

Verify sum of daily averages: 8.57+5.00+1.43+2.14+2.86+2.00+2.00=24.00 hours8.57 + 5.00 + 1.43 + 2.14 + 2.86 + 2.00 + 2.00 = 24.00 \text{ hours}

Step 3 · Construct the Activity Strip

To represent the average day:

  1. Draw a strip of length 24 cm24\text{ cm}, where 1 cm=1 hour1\text{ cm} = 1\text{ hour}.
  2. Divide the strip into proportional segments corresponding to each average:
    • Sleeping: 8.57 cm8.57\text{ cm}
    • School: 5.00 cm5.00\text{ cm}
    • Screen Time: 2.86 cm2.86\text{ cm}
    • Playing Outdoors: 2.14 cm2.14\text{ cm}
    • Eating: 2.00 cm2.00\text{ cm}
    • Other Activities: 2.00 cm2.00\text{ cm}
    • Homework: 1.43 cm1.43\text{ cm}
Answer

(ii) The average daily times are: Sleeping 8.57 h\approx 8.57\text{ h}, School =5.00 h= 5.00\text{ h}, Screen Time 2.86 h\approx 2.86\text{ h}, Playing Outdoors 2.14 h\approx 2.14\text{ h}, Eating =2.00 h= 2.00\text{ h}, Other Activities =2.00 h= 2.00\text{ h}, and Homework 1.43 h\approx 1.43\text{ h}. Represented on a 24 cm24\text{ cm} strip where 1 cm=1 hour1\text{ cm} = 1\text{ hour}.

(iii) Similarly, track the activities of any adult at home. Compare your data with theirs.

Step 1 · Track Adult Activities and Compare

Follow the same method for an adult family member:

  1. Record their daily activities over 7 days.
  2. Compute daily averages using A=Total Hours7A = \dfrac{\text{Total Hours}}{7}.

Example comparison:

  • Adult Screen/Work Time: 4.00 hours/day4.00\text{ hours/day}
  • Student Screen Time: 2.86 hours/day2.86\text{ hours/day}

Comparison shows the adult spends more time working/on screens (4.00 hours>2.86 hours4.00\text{ hours} > 2.86\text{ hours}) and less time in outdoor play compared to the student.

Answer

(iii) Track the adult's activities over 77 days, compute the daily averages, and compare the segments. Typically, adults spend more time on work/screen time and less time on outdoor play compared to children.

Common Mistakes
  • Total Hours Mismatch: Forgetting that total weekly hours must sum to 7×24=168 hours7 \times 24 = 168\text{ hours}, and daily averages must sum to 24 hours24\text{ hours}.
  • Incorrect Divisor: Dividing by the number of activities instead of 7 days7\text{ days} when calculating the daily average.
  • Scale Error on Activity Strip: Failing to use a consistent scale (such as 1 cm=1 hour1\text{ cm} = 1\text{ hour}) so that the full strip measures exactly 24 cm24\text{ cm}.

More questions in A

Q1

Individual project: Make your own activity strip for different days of the week.

(i) Do you eat and sleep at regular times every day? Typically how long do you spend outdoors?

(ii) Calculate the average time spent per activity. Represent this average day using a strip.

(iii) Similarly, track the activities of any adult at home. Compare your data with theirs.

Q2

Small group project: Make a group of 3–4 members. Do at least one of the following:

(i) Track daily sleep time of all your family members for a week. Daily sleep time includes night sleep, naps, and any sleep during the day.

(a) Represent this on strips.

(b) Put together the data of all your group members. Calculate the average and median sleep time of children, adults, elderly.

(c) Share your findings and observations.

(ii) When do schools start and end? On a weekday, Manoj’s school starts at 9:30 am and ends at 4:30 pm, i.e., 7 hours which include class time and breaks. Collect information on the daily timings of different schools for Grade 8, including class time and break time (the schools can be anywhere in the country. You can ask your neighbours, relatives, parents and friends to find out). Analyse and present the data collected.

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