CSEC Additional Mathematics School Based Assessment
An investigation into the change in height of Saint Joseph's
Convent Students From Form 1 to Form 5
0
Table Of Contents
Introduction 2 Method of Data Collection 3-4 Presentation of Data and Analysis 4-28
Discussion 29
page 1
Introduction
The schools’ nurse, Miss Collubert, has been working at Saint Joseph’s Convent for
nearly 5 years. She observed that as the students graduated to higher forms, the
majority of them gradually became taller. Due to her busy schedule, the nurse
assigned a group of 4 pupils to carry out her investigation. She wanted them to
determine the fluctuation in the heights of students from form 1 to form 5.
In order to analyze and determine any height fluctuations among the forms, the
following must be determined:
● Measure the heights of a constant group of students from each form.
● Calculate the mean, mode, median, interquartile range, standard deviation
and range of the heights of the students
● To compare the heights of the students.
page 2
Method of Data Collection
The data compiled for this investigation was collected by Random Sampling, which
is a method involving selecting a sample from a larger population.
Group members approached random students from each Form and pooled the
data from willing participants. This process was conducted in an unbiased manner
to ensure that each participant of the various Forms had an equal probability of
being included in the sample
LOG BOOK
Group Members: Jenai Fontenelle, Mirakle Bradley, Ashniah Clarke, Melanie Wells
Date Time Group Member (s) Activity
20/09/2023 12:10pm ALL The group decided that 30
students from each form heights
would be measured. Each student
was selected at random to ensure
that there were no biases during
the data collection. A standard
measuring tape was used
calibrated to 1cm accuracy. It
provided an estimate of the
height of all
students.
22/09/2023 12:05pm ALL The group was divided into pairs
and each pair was assigned two
forms. Ashniah and Mirakle
received the Form 2s and Form 3s.
Meanwhile, Jenai and Melanie
received the Form 1s and Form
4s. The group came together to
measure the form 5s.
25/09/2023 12:12pm Ashniah and Mirakle Measured the heights of 15 form
3s and 9 form 2s.
27/09/2023 12:15pm Jenai and Melanie Measured the heights of 27 form 4s.
page 3
29/09/2023 10:30am Jenai and Melanie Measured the heights of 3 form
4s and 16 form 1s
3/10/2023 11:45am Ashniah and Mirakle Measured the heights of 15 form
3s and 21 from 2s
4/10/2023 10:30am Jenai and Melanie Measured the heights of 14 form
11:45 am Ashniah, Jenai 1s Measured the heights of 30
and Melanie
form 5s
Presentation of Data and Analysis
UNGROUPED HEIGHTS OF STUDENTS FROM EACH FORM (CM)
Form 1 Form 2 Form 3 Form 4 Form 5
1. 160 157 167 165 157
2. 160 163 177 163 161
3. 164 165 160 176 157
4. 165 166 168 169 168
5. 159 176 154 165 164
6. 166 161 157 169 178
7. 168 169 155 169 167
8. 158 174 162 156 172
9. 156 167 156 162 165
10. 175 166 162 165 180
11. 171 158 154 171 158
12. 151 162 170 168 169
13. 165 167 169 166 163
14. 158 170 164 178 162
15. 167 170 165 170 164
page 4
16. 161 164 162 165 175
17. 180 175 163 165 170
18. 150 158 164 170 160
19. 161 150 165 158 159
20. 166 164 165 163 177
21. 163 166 173 158 161
22. 166 165 172 163 169
23. 156 162 156 158 162
24. 167 161 163 167 160
25. 164 163 162 167 163
26. 157 162 165 175 164
27. 152 157 168 166 162
28. 162 164 177 170 150
29. 157 176 160 165 170
30. 160 167 157 166 159
page 5
➔ Form 1
● STEM AND LEAF PLOT
Stem and Leaf diagram showcasing the heights of 30 form 1 students
15│2 means: 152cm
Stem Leaf
15 0126677889
16 00011234455666778
17 15
18 0
Height of shortest student= 150cm
Height of the tallest students= 180cm
Range= maximum height - minimum height
= 180-150
= 30cm
Modal height= 160cm and 166cm
Median= 161 + 162
2
= 161.5 cm
∑��
Mean =
∑����
=4865
30
= 162.167 cm
Interquartile range = Q3 - Q1
page 6
1
Q1 = (n+1)th 4
= (30+1)th 14
1
= 31
4
= 7.75th position
= 152 cm
3
Q3 = (n+1)
4
3
= (30+1)
4
3
= 31
4
= 23.25th position
= 166 cm
Interquartile range= 166- 152
= 14cm
● STANDARD DEVIATION
Table used to calculate the standard deviation of the heights of 30 form 1 students
Formula:
∑����2
s=2
�� − ( ��)
Heights of Frequency Class f(x) f(x)2
students (cm) (f) midpoint (x)
150 - 159 10 154.5 1545 238702.5
160 - 169 17 164.5 2796.5 460024.25
170 - 179 2 174.5 349 60900.5
180 - 189 1 184.5 184.5 34040.25
page 7
2
n= ∑ �� = ∑ ���� = (x) ∑ �� = 793667.5
30 4875
Mean ( ��) = ∑��(��)
��
4875
=
30
= 162.5 cm
2
Standard Deviation= 793667.5
30 − 162. 5
= 26455. 58 − 26406. 25
= 49. 33
= 7.02 cm
● FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Table used to determine the median and quartiles for a grouped frequency
distribution
Heights of Frequency Heights in cm Frequency
students (cm) (x) (y)
150-159 10 x<149.5 0
160-169 17 x<159.5 10
170-179 2 x<169.5 27
180-189 1 x<179.5 29
x<189.5 30
page 8
FREQUENCY CURVE SHOWING THE HEIGHTS OF FORM ONE STUDENTS
page
9
➔ Form 2
● STEM AND LEAF PLOT
Stem and Leaf diagram showcasing the heights of 30 Form 2 students
15│7 means: 157cm
Stem Leaf
15 07788
16 1122233444556667779
17 004566
Height of shortest student= 150cm
Height of tallest student= 176cm
Range= maximum height - minimum height
= 176- 150
=26 cm
Modal height= no modal height
Median= 164 cm
∑��
Mean =
∑����
=4945
30
= 164.83 cm
Interquartile range = Q3 - Q1
Q1 = (n+1)th 14
= (30+1)th 14
1
= 31
4
= 7.75th position
= 162 cm
page 10
3
Q3 = (n+1)
4
3
= (30+1)
4
3
= 31
4
= 23.25th position
= 167 cm
Interquartile range= 167-162cm
= 5cm
● STANDARD DEVIATION
Table used to calculate the standard deviation of the heights of 30 form 2 students
∑����2
2
s=
�� − ( ��)
Heights of Frequency Class f(x) f(x)2
students (cm) (f) midpoint (x)
150-159 5 154.5 772.5 119351.25
160-169 19 164.5 3125.5 514144.75
170-179 6 174.5 1047 182701.5
n= ∑ ��= ∑ ����= x)2 ∑ ��( =
30 4945 816197.5
Mean ( ��) = ∑��(��)
��
= 4945
30
= 164.83 cm
page 11
2
Standard deviation= 816197.5
30 − 164. 83
= 27206. 58 − 27168. 93
= 47 . 65
= 6.9 cm
● FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Table used to determine the median and quartiles for a grouped frequency
distribution
Heights of Frequency Heights in cm Frequency
students (cm) (x) (y)
150-159 5 x<149.5 0
160-169 19 x<159.5 5
170-179 6 x<169.5 24
x<179.5 30
page 12
FREQUENCY CURVE SHOWING THE HEIGHTS OF FORM TWO STUDENTS
page 13
➔ Form 3
● STEM AND LEAF PLOT
Stem and Leaf diagram showcasing the heights of 30 Form 3 students
15│7 means: 157cm
Stem Leaf
15 4456677
16 002222334455557889
17 02377
Height of shortest student: 154 cm
Height of tallest student: 177 cm
Range= maximum height - minimum height
= 177-154
=23 cm
Modal height =162 cm and 165 cm
Median = 163 + 164
2
= 163.5 cm
∑��
Mean =
∑����
= 4912
30
= 163.73 cm
Interquartile range = Q3 - Q1
Q1 = (n+1)th 14
= (30+1)th 14
1
= 31
4
page 14
= 7.75th position
= 154 cm
3
Q3 = (n+1)
4
3
= (30+1)
4
3
= 31
4
= 23.25th position
= 168 cm
Interquartile range= 168 - 154cm
= 14cm
● STANDARD DEVIATION
Table used to calculate the standard deviation of the heights of 30 form 3 students
∑��(��)2
s= ��)
�� − (
Heights of Frequency Class f(x) f(x)2
students (cm) (f) midpoint
(x)
150-159 7 154.5 1081.5 167091.75
160-169 18 164.5 2961 487084.5
170-179 5 174.5 872.5 152774.75
2
n= ���� = 30 ��(��) = ��(��) =
4915 806951
Mean ( ��) = ∑��(��)
��
4915
=
30
= 163.83 cm
806951
Standard deviation = 2
30 − 163 . 83
= 26898 . 37 − 26840 . 27
page 15
= 58 . 1
= 7.62 cm
● FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Table used to determine the median and quartiles for a grouped frequency
distribution
Heights of Frequency Heights in cm Frequency
students (cm) (x) (y)
150-159 7 x<149.5 0
160-169 18 x<159.5 7
170-179 5 x<169.5 25
x<179.5 30
page 16
FREQUENCY SHOWING THE HEIGHTS OF FORM THREE STUDENTS
page 17
➔ Form 4
● STEM AND LEAF PLOT
Stem and Leaf diagram portraying the heights of 30 form 4 students
15│6 means: 156cm
Stem Leaf
15 6888
16 2333555555666778999
17 0001568
Height of shortest student= 156 cm
Height of tallest student= 178 cm
Range = maximum height - minimum height
= 178 cm-156 cm
= 22cm
Modal height= 165 cm
Median = 166 cm
∑��
Mean =
∑����
= 4988
30
= 166.27 cm
Interquartile range= Q3 - Q1
Q1 = (n+1)th 14
= (30+1)th 14
1
= 31
4
= 7.75th position
= 163 cm
page 18
3
Q3 = (n+1)
4
3
= (30+1)
4
3
= 31
4
= 23.25th position
= 169 cm
Interquartile range = 169 cm-163 cm
= 6 cm
● STANDARD DEVIATION
Table used to calculate the standard deviation of the heights of 30 form 4 students.
Formula:
∑����2
2
s=
�� − ( ��)
Heights Frequency Class fx fx2
(f) midpoint (x)
150 - 159 4 154.5 618 95481
160 - 169 19 164.5 3125.5 514144.75
170 - 179 7 174.5 1221.5 213151.75
n= ∑ �� = ∑ ���� = x2 ∑ �� = 822777.5
30 4965
Mean ( ��) = ∑����
��
4965
=
30
= 165.5
page 19
2
Standard Deviation = 822777.5
30 − 165. 5
= 27425 . 91 − 27390 . 25
= 35 . 66
= 5.97 cm
● FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Table used to determine the median and quartiles for a grouped frequency
distribution
Heights of frequency Heights in cm Frequency
students (cm) (x) (y)
150-159 4 x<149.5 0
160-169 19 x< 159.5 4
170-179 7 x< 169.5 23
x< 179.5 30
page 20
FREQUENCY CURVE SHOWING THE HEIGHTS OF FORM FOUR STUDENTS
page 21
➔ Form 5
● STEM AND LEAF PLOT
Stem and Leaf diagram showcasing the heights of 30 form 5 students
15│0 means: 150cm
Stem Leaf
15 077899
16 00112223344457899
17 002578
18 0
Height of shortest student= 150cm
Height of the tallest student= 180cm
Range =maximum height- minimum height
= 180-150
= 30cm
Modal height= 162 cm and 164 cm
Median = 163 + 164
2
= 163.5 cm
∑��
Mean=
∑����
= 4946
30
= 164.87 cm
Interquartile range= Q3 - Q1
Q1 = (n+1)th 14
= (30+1)th 14
1
= 31
4
page 22
= 7.75th position
= 160 cm
3
Q3 = (n+1)
4
3
= (30+1)
4
3
= 31
4
= 23.25th position
= 169 cm
Interquartile range = 169-160
= 9cm
● STANDARD DEVIATION
Table used to calculate the standard deviation of the heights of 30 form 5 students
Formula:
∑����2
2
s=
�� − ( ��)
Heights Frequency Class fx fx2
(f) midpoint (x)
150 - 159 6 154.5 927 143221.5
160 - 169 17 164.5 2796.5 460024.3
170 - 179 6 174.5 1047 182701.5
180 - 189 1 184.5 184.5 34040.25
n= ∑ �� = ∑ ���� = x2 ∑ �� = 819987.5
30 4955
Mean ( ��) = ∑����
��
page 23
4955
=
30
= 165.17 cm
2
Standard Deviation = 819987.5
30 − 165. 17
= 27332 . 92 − 27281 . 13
= 51 . 79
= 7.20 cm
● FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION CURVE
Table used to determine the median and quartiles for a grouped frequency
distribution
Heights of frequency Heights in cm Frequency
students (cm) (x) (y)
150-159 6 x<149.5 0
160-169 17 x< 159.5 6
170-179 6 x< 169.5 23
180-189 1 x< 179.5 29
x<189.5 30
page 24
FREQUENCY CURVE SHOWING THE HEIGHTS OF FORM FIVE STUDENTS
page 25
The mean and median are measures of central tendency whereas standard
deviation and interquartile range are measures of dispersion which are used to
describe characteristics of the dataset.
Mean(cm) Standard deviation(cm)
Form 1 162.5 7.02
Form 2 164.83 6.9
Form 3 163.83 7.62
Form 4 165.5 5.62
Form 5 165.17 7.20
The mean represents the typical or central value as it is the sum of all the dataset
values divided by the number of observations.
The standard deviation measures the amount of variability or dispersion in a set of
values. It quantifies how much individual data points deviate from the mean.
We can see from the table that the magnitude of the mean impacts the size of the
standard deviation. We can gather that a larger mean may make a standard
deviation appear smaller especially if the individual data points are large.
When comparing the mean and standard deviation between form 1 and form 5, the
increase of mean height and standard deviation can be observed. A hypothesis can
be made; when students graduate from secondary school, they are 2.67 cm taller
than their form 1 height.
(median heights and interquartile range were taken from the graphs)
Median(cm) Interquartile range(cm)
Form 1 162 167-157.5=9.5
Form 2 164.5 168.5-161=7.5
Form 3 163 167-159.5=7.5
Form 4 165 169-162=7
Form 5 164 169-160=9
page 26
The median is the middle value when the data is sorted in either ascending or
descending order, thus representing the center of the distribution.
The interquartile range is the range of value where the median falls. It measures
the middle 50% of the data and is less sensitive to extreme value than the range.
When comparing the medians between form 1 and form 5, we observe that there is
an increase of 2 cm however the interquartile range(IQR) decreases by 0.5cm. We
can hypothesize that as the median increases, IQR decreases. By comparing the
median and mean throughout the five years, we can determine if the distribution of
the data set is equal. There is a 0.67 cm difference, therefore the data set is evenly
distributed.
page 27
DIS C US S ION and CONCLUSION
We can observe from the graph above that, the Mean and Median heights of the
students from form 1 to form 5 remained relatively constant. There was a small
incline in the form 2 heights and a small decline in the form 3 heights then an
increase. From form 4 to form 5 the heights remained the same.
The graph suggests that students grow only a few centimeters after 5 years.
In future analysis, another sampling technique will be utilized to compare findings. I
believe the best technique to be used is Random Sampling. Numbers from 1-60
should be handed to random students in each form. Then a random number
generator will be used to select the students to be measured. Thus requiring each
member of the group to be sampled an equal chance of being selected. This means
that the sampling is done with replacement and it is possible to sample the same
member of the group twice.
Limitations of the study included the accuracy of the equipment used, the time
limits related to the availability of the students for measurement. Unlike a doctor’s
page 28
scale, which has a uniform method of measurement, students measuring by hand
introduce potential measurement errors, further representing a limitation.
page 29