Dot Plot Calculator

Create dot plots and calculate statistical measures for small datasets

Enter Data Values and Frequencies

Enter up to 20 value-count pairs. Each value represents a data point, and count represents how many times it appears.

#
Value
Count
Actions
1
2
3
4
5
💡 Tip: Keep counts ≤ 20 for best visualization. Use histogram for larger frequencies.

Dot Plot Visualization

1
2
3
4
5
Values
3.20
Mean
3.00
Median
3
Mode
4.00
Range

Distribution Analysis

Total Data Points: 30

Minimum Value: 1

Maximum Value: 5

Distribution Shape: symmetric

Unique Values: 5

Most Frequent: 3 (Count: 10)

Example: Student Grades Analysis

Scenario

Problem: A teacher wants to visualize student grades in a class

Data: Grades A(5), B(3), C(10), D(7), F(5) students

Numerical representation: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, F=1

Results

Mean: 3.20 (between C and B, closer to C)

Median: 3.00 (Grade C)

Mode: 3 (Grade C - most frequent)

Interpretation: Most students received a C grade

Distribution Shapes

S

Symmetric

Bell-shaped with center peak, equal spread on both sides

R

Right-Skewed

Tail extends to the right, most data on the left

L

Left-Skewed

Tail extends to the left, most data on the right

U

Uniform

All values have equal or similar frequency

Best Practices

✓

Use for small datasets (≤ 20 unique values)

✓

Keep frequencies ≤ 20 for clear visualization

✓

Great for comparing distributions quickly

✓

Each dot represents one data point

!

Use histogram for larger datasets or high frequencies

Understanding Dot Plots

What is a Dot Plot?

A dot plot is a simple statistical chart that displays data using dots stacked vertically. Each dot represents one occurrence of a value, making it easy to visualize the frequency and distribution of small datasets.

When to Use Dot Plots

  • •Small datasets with 20 or fewer unique values
  • •When you want to show individual data points
  • •Comparing distributions between groups
  • •Quick visual analysis of data shape

Reading Statistics from Dot Plots

  • Mean: Average of all data points
  • Median: Middle value when data is ordered
  • Mode: Most frequently occurring value(s)
  • Range: Difference between max and min values

Dot Plot vs Histogram

Dot Plot: Shows individual data points, better for small datasets

Histogram: Groups data into ranges, better for large datasets

Identifying Patterns

Clusters

Groups of dots close together indicate common values or ranges in your data.

Gaps

Empty spaces between dots show values that don't appear in your dataset.

Outliers

Isolated dots far from others may indicate unusual or extreme values.