Back to search results
Fix the matchbox machine: scoop size and speed

Learning objects Fix the matchbox machine: scoop size and speed

TLF ID L2343

Check whether a machine is packing most matchboxes with an acceptable number of matches (40–60 matches per box). Look at boxplots made after taking samples of 100 matchboxes. Analyse the data and identify whether results are within the tolerance range. Adjust the machine's scoop size or speed (if needed) to make it work correctly. Interpret boxplots made from new samples. Notice that the machine variables affect the median and range of sample values. This learning object is a combination of two objects in the same series.

View resource


Educational details

Key learning objectives
  • Students interpret boxplots to identify whether quality control parameters are within a tolerance range.
  • Students explore how the shape of boxplots is affected by adjusting variables.
Educational value
  • Helps students to relate boxplots to variation between samples.
  • Features automatic construction of boxplots.
  • Highlights maximum, median, minimum, first and third quartile values on a boxplot.
  • Illustrates how a tolerance range is tested in quality management.
  • Tests data interpretation by getting students to restate conclusions.
  • Emphasises the importance of minimum sample size.
  • Supports repeated use by randomly generating values for variables.
Year level

10

TopicsBox plots; Data analysis; Median; Quartiles; Sampling (Statistics)
Learning area
  • mathematics
Strand
  • Mathematics/Statistics and probability
    Concept
    • Mathematics/Data analysis
    • Mathematics/Data collection
    • Mathematics/Graphs
    • Mathematics/Variation
    • Mathematics/Summary statistics
    • Mathematics/Sample size
    • Mathematics/Sampling
    • Mathematics/Statistics
    Skill
    • Knowledge;
    • Comprehension;
    • Application;
    • Analysis
    Student activity
    • Interactives;
    • Analysis;
    • Modelling;
    • Data manipulation and interpretation
    Learning design
    • Experiential learning;
    • Independent learning;
    • Problem solving;
    • Visual learning

    Other details

    Contributors
    • Script writer
    • Name: Michael Wagner
    • Organisation: Godwin + Wagner
    • Address: Box Hill South VIC 3128 Australia
    • Subject matter expert
    • Name: Sue Ferguson
    • Organisation: Sue Ferguson Consulting Pty Ltd
    • Address: Northcote VIC 3070 Australia
    • Educational validator
    • Name: Graham Jones
    • Address: Broadbeach QLD 4218 Australia
    • Technical implementer
    • Publisher
    • Date of contribution: 20 Sep 2013
    • Organisation: Education Services Australia
    • Address: Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
    • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
    Access profile
    • Colour independence
    • Device independence
    • Hearing independence
    Learning resource type
    • Interactive Resource
    Browsers
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer - minimum version: 8.0 (MS-Windows) - maximum version: 9.0 (MS-Windows)
    • Firefox - minimum version: (MS-Windows)
    • Safari - minimum version: 5.1 (MacOS)
    Operating systems
    • MacOS - minimum version: 10.6
    • MS-Windows - minimum version: XP - maximum version: 7
    Rights
    • © Education Services Australia Ltd, 2013, except where indicated under Acknowledgements.

    Related items

    Includes: