Process

Part 1: Collecting Data

Use the following links to find the areas and populations of each of the fifty states.  Washington DC , or the District of Columbia , does not count as a state.  Collect your data on the student worksheet (There are three spreadsheets located in this document.  Use the tabs at the bottom of the screen to locate the correct page).  Be sure to include references.

State abbreviations

Demographia.com

infoplease.com

Census Bureau

You may also use a search engine to find your own resources. Some recommended search phrases include " USA state areas" and "United States Areas and Populations" 

Part 2:  Using the information

1)      Write each state's 2-letter abbreviation on the area and population line plots where their numbers should go. 

2)      Use your completed line plot to find the median.  Because there are 50 states, the median will be located between the 25th and 26th states.  Show your work for this process at the bottom of the area and population line plots next to "Area Median" and “Population Median”

3)      Draw a mark on each line plot to indicate where the medians are.   

4)      Determine the area mode by locating the 5,000-mile range which has the most states listed between it and the next 5000-mile marker.  Write the area section with the most states next to, "Area Mode." 

5)      Determine the population mode by locating the ˝  million mile range which has the most states listed between it and the next ˝ million mile marker.  Write the population section with the most between it next to “Population Mode.”

6)      Find the area and population means.  You may use a calculator to add each state's area/population before dividing or you may use the sum of the area/population of the US obtained from an online resource.  Show the numbers you are dividing by next to, "Area Mean" and "Population Mean" before you write the answers.

7)      For both the area and population, determine the minimum, maximum, range, and outliers.   Write these numbers at the appropriate locations on the spreadsheet. 

Part 3: Make a conclusion

Using the measures of center (mean, median, mode, etc.) decide which state has the most typical size in terms of area and population.  Describe how you came to this decision in several complete sentences using math vocabulary on a separate sheet of paper.