Understand that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a sample of the population; generalizations about a population from a sample are valid only if the sample is representative of that population. Understand that random sampling tends to produce representative samples and support valid inferences.
In plain words: Students learn that a sample tells you about a population only if it represents that population, and that random sampling tends to give representative samples.
Quick picks
- Common mistake
- Trusting a convenience sample: asking only the soccer team to estimate how many students at school play a sport.
- Builds on
- 6.SP.A.1Statistical questions
Example Problems
The parks department will repaint 5 of 50 trail markers. They number the markers and use the random digit table printed below to choose a simple random sample.
Which markers are in the sample?
Which markers are in the sample?
A research lab prepared 33 culture plates and will test a simple random sample of 5. The plates are numbered 01-33 and the random digit table printed below is used.
Which plates are in the sample?
54140, 32930, 21965, 40788, 15302
Which plates are in the sample?
54140, 32930, 21965, 40788, 15302
A teacher has 10 group leaders and needs a simple random sample of 3 to present first. He numbers them and uses the random digit table printed below.
Which leaders are in the sample?
Which leaders are in the sample?
Khan Academy Resources
1-on-1 tutoring aligned to 7.SP.A.1. Instant help for students, real-time insights for teachers.
Used in classrooms by 100,000+ students at Baltimore County, Plano ISD, Deer Valley USD, KIPP, and districts nationwide.
Free for teachers, forever →