← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Finding patterns, trends and outliers

Look for patterns and trends in data, like highest, lowest, going up or down. An outlier is a value that stands out from the rest. Compare groups to see differences.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 30, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 24, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 96, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 69, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 34, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 17, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 1, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 34, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 115, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 38, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 120

Understanding Finding patterns, trends and outliers in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: The MAX function gives the biggest number in a range, which is the highest value. The numbers get bigger each day, so the trend is going up. An outlier is a value that stands out from the rest. 42 is much bigger than the other ages. Comparing groups means looking at the differences. 40 is more than 25, so 5A read more. A pattern is something that repeats. This data goes up and down in a repeating way, not steadily up. When values keep getting larger over time, the data shows an upward trend. When you compare groups, the group with the larger number is higher. 8 is bigger than 6.

Common mistakes: The outlier is the value that stands out from the rest. In this list that is 20, not 4. It should be outlier = 20. The temperatures get bigger each time, so the trend is going up. It should be trend = 'going up'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
A class records the daily temperature for a week: 21, 22, 23, 25, 26. What trend does this data show?
The temperature is going upThe temperature is going down
Matches
Temps: 20, 22, 24, 26 - 'The trend is going down.'
↓
The numbers get bigger each time, so the trend is going up, not down.
Applying
Meanings
Term
pattern, trend, outlier
Meaning
Look for patterns and trends in data, like highest, lowest, going up or down. An outlier is a value that stands out from the rest. Compare groups to see differences.
Practice
Books read each week
Testing
Gaps
Highest score: =(B2:B8)
Check Answer
Spots
3lowest = MIN(scores)
4outlier = 4

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Quick Questions

1. A class records the daily temperature for a week: 21, 22, 23, 25, 26. What trend does this data show?
A. The temperature is going up ✓
B. The temperature is going down
The numbers get bigger each day, so the trend is going up.
2. Which value is the outlier in this list of ages: 10, 11, 10, 11, 42?
A. 42 ✓
B. 10
An outlier is a value that stands out from the rest. 42 is much bigger than the other ages.
3. Scores in a spelling test: 6, 9, 7, 10, 8. Which is the highest score?
A. 6
B. 10 ✓
The highest value is the biggest number, which is 10. The lowest is 6.
4. Which sentence correctly describes an outlier?
A. The value that appears first in the table
B. A value that is very different from the rest of the data ✓
An outlier stands out from the other values. Its position in the table does not matter.
5. Class 5A read 40 books and Class 5B read 25 books. What can you say when comparing the groups?
A. Class 5A read more books than Class 5B ✓
B. Class 5B read more books than Class 5A
Comparing groups means looking at the differences. 40 is more than 25, so 5A read more.

Match the Pairs

Sales: 5, 8, 12, 15 → A trend going up, because each number is bigger than the one before
Ages: 10, 11, 10, 11, 45 → The number 45 is an outlier because it stands out from the rest
Finding the highest value in a set of data → =MAX(B2:B8)
Finding the lowest value in a set of data → =MIN(B2:B8)
Temps: 20, 22, 24, 26 - 'The trend is going down.' → The numbers get bigger each time, so the trend is going up, not down.
Class A average 8, Class B average 6 - 'Class B scored higher.' → Class A has the bigger average, so Class A scored higher when comparing the groups.

Key Term

pattern, trend, outlier
Look for patterns and trends in data, like highest, lowest, going up or down. An outlier is a value that stands out from the rest. Compare groups to see differences.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Highest score: =MAX(B2:B8)
Hint: Type the function that finds the highest value in a range.
2. Lowest score: =MIN(B2:B8)
Hint: Type the function that finds the lowest value in a range.
3. Data: 4, 5, 6, 5, 50 The number 50 is an outlier
Hint: Type the word for a value that stands out from the rest of the data.
4. Scores: 3, 5, 7, 9 The trend is going up
Hint: Type the direction the values are heading over time.
5. Class A: =AVERAGE(B2:B8) Class B: =AVERAGE(C2:C8)
Hint: Type the function that gives a typical value for each group so you can compare them.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A scores = [4, 6, 5, 20, 5]
B highest = MAX(scores)
C lowest = MIN(scores)
D outlier = 4
Line D — The outlier is the value that stands out from the rest. In this list that is 20, not 4. It should be outlier = 20.
Question 2
A temps = [20, 22, 24, 26]
B trend = 'going down'
C print(trend)
Line B — The temperatures get bigger each time, so the trend is going up. It should be trend = 'going up'.
Question 3
A class_a = [5, 6, 7]
B avg_a = MAX(class_a)
C class_b = [8, 9, 7]
D avg_b = AVERAGE(class_b)
Line B — To compare groups fairly, both groups must be measured the same way. avg_b uses AVERAGE, so avg_a should be AVERAGE(class_a).
Question 4
A rain = [10, 12, 9, 11]
B wettest = MAX(rain)
C driest = MIN(rain)
D gap = wettest + driest
Line D — The gap between the highest and lowest values is found by subtracting. It should be gap = wettest - driest.
Question 5
A scores = [8, 9, 7, 3, 8]
B outlier = 30
C print(outlier)
Line A — The outlier is 30, but the list no longer contains 30, so nothing stands out. The list should include 30: [8, 9, 7, 30, 8].

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