Question

Which answer best describes the shape of this distribution?

Responses

uniform
uniform

skewed left
skewed left

bell-shaped
bell-shaped

skewed right
skewed right
An untitled line plot from 35 to 49. The plot displays the following values as dots above the corresponding value on the number line. One dot at 36. One dot at 37. One dot at 38. One dot at 40. Two dots at 41. One dot at 42. Three dots at 43. Four dots at 44. Five dots at 45. Three dots at 46. Two dots at 47. One dot at 48.

Answer 1

To determine the shape of the distribution based on the given line plot data, we need to analyze the frequency of the values:

- 36: 1 dot
- 37: 1 dot
- 38: 1 dot
- 40: 1 dot
- 41: 2 dots
- 42: 1 dot
- 43: 3 dots
- 44: 4 dots
- 45: 5 dots
- 46: 3 dots
- 47: 2 dots
- 48: 1 dot

As we can see, the frequencies increase from 36 to 45, peak at 45, and then decrease towards 48. This creates a distribution that rises to a peak and then falls off, indicating a bell shape.

- The distribution does not have any long tails in either direction, so it is not skewed to the left or right.
- As the highest point is in the middle and it tapers off symmetrically, we characterize the shape as bell-shaped.

Therefore, the best description of the shape of this distribution is **bell-shaped**.