Students recognize and formulate statistical questions — questions that would generate numerical data with variability. They learn the difference between a statistical question like "How many minutes do students in my class spend on homework?" and a non-statistical one like "How many minutes did I spend on homework last night?"
How the FAST tests this benchmark
The FAST tests this with multiple choice and multiselect items asking students to identify which questions are statistical or which question would generate numerical data with variability.
Skills students need
Recognize statistical questions
Formulate statistical questions that generate numerical data
Try 4 real MA.6.DP.1.1 questions
These come straight from Algebro's question bank. Pick an answer to check it instantly.
Question 1EasyMatching
Classify each question as statistical or not statistical.
Pick one match in each row, then check.
Statistical
Not Statistical
How many pages do students in our class read per week?
How many days are in a school year?
What is the name of our school principal?
How many pets do students in our class have?
Correct answer: shown by the green boxes above
This explanation shows one way to solve the problem.
Statistical vs. not statistical: Statistical question → answers vary across people/situations. Non-statistical → one fixed answer.
Check each row: Pages read: varies by student ✓ School days: fixed number ✗ Principal name: one answer ✗ Pets owned: varies by student ✓
Classify: Rows 1 and 4 → statistical (variable answers). Rows 2 and 3 → not statistical (fixed answers).
Final Answer
Rows 1 and 4 are statistical;rows 2 and 3 are not statistical.
Question 2MediumMultiple Select
Select ALL questions that are statistical questions.
Select every answer that applies, then check.
Correct answer: B, D (highlighted above)
This explanation shows one way to solve the problem.
Not statistical (fixed answers): Flagpole height: one value ✗ School founding year: one value ✗ Number of teachers: one value ✗
Statistical (variable answers): Student heights: varies person to person ✓ Sleep hours: varies among students ✓
Select all statistical: Options 2 and 4 → statistical.
Final Answer
Options 2 and 4: 'How tall are the students in our class?' and 'How many hours do students in our grade sleep each night?'
Question 3MediumMultiple Select
Select ALL questions that are statistical questions.
Select every answer that applies, then check.
Correct answer: A, E (highlighted above)
This explanation shows one way to solve the problem.
Not statistical (fixed answers): A statistical question anticipates variability: different subjects give different answers.
Statistical (variable answers): The school mascot is one fixed name. There are always 36 inches in a yard — fixed. There are always 7 days in a week — fixed.
Select all statistical: Different students walk different distances each week. Different students take different amounts of time on homework. Options 1 and 5 are statistical.
Final Answer
Options 1 and 5: 'How many miles do students walk each week?' and 'How long does it take students to finish their homework?'
Question 4HardMultiple Choice
A school nurse wants to collect data to study the health habits of 6th graders. Which question would produce statistical data?
Correct answer: C. How many minutes do 6th graders exercise on a typical day?
This explanation shows one way to solve the problem.
Rule out fixed-answer options: School mascot: one answer ✗ Bones in body: one answer ✗ Recommended water intake: one guideline ✗
Find the variable-answer option: Minutes of exercise → varies by student → statistical question ✓
Final Answer
How many minutes do 6th graders exercise on a typical day?
Master MA.6.DP.1.1 with personalized practice
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