Begin2.DVI

Some examples of discrete data is presented in the table 11.1. These numbers

can be plotted as vertical or horizontal bar graphs, either stacked or grouped or as

a line graph. The figure 11-2 illustrates these type of graphs.

Figure 11-2. United States Corn, Soybean and Wheat Production

Table 11.1

Unite States Production of Corn, Soybeans and Wheat

(in millions of bushels)

Year Corn Soybean Wheat

2001 9.92 2.76 2.23

2002 9.50 2.89 1.95

2003 8.97 2.76 1.61

2004 10.09 2.45 2.35

2005 11.81 3.12 2.16

2006 11.11 3.06 2.11

2007 10.54 3.19 1.81

2008 13.07 2.59 2.07

Tabular Representation of Data

A statistical experiment usually consists of collecting data from a random se-

lection of the population. For example, suppose the systolic blood pressure of two

hundred individuals are taken from a random sample of the population. The systolic

blood pressure is measured in units of mmHg and is the blood pressure as the heart

begins to pump. The diastolic blood pressure being a measure of the blood pressure

between heart beats. The data set collected consists of 200 numbers, representing

the sample size. A representative set of such numbers is presented in the table 11.2.