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United StatesMaths

Statistics and Probability

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you count arrangements and selections using the counting principle, permutations and combinations on the ACT?

Count outcomes with the fundamental counting principle, and distinguish permutations (order matters) from combinations (order does not matter) (Statistics and Probability).
An ACT Statistics answer on counting: the fundamental counting principle, factorials, and telling permutations (order matters) from combinations (order does not matter), with worked ACT-style questions and common traps.
10 min answer →

How do you read and interpret tables, bar graphs, histograms and other data displays on the ACT?

Read and interpret data from tables, bar graphs, line graphs, histograms, pie charts and box plots, and compute statistics or probabilities from a display (Statistics and Probability, Integrating Essential Skills).
An ACT Statistics answer on reading data displays: tables, bar and line graphs, histograms, pie charts and box plots, and computing means, totals, fractions and probabilities from them, with worked ACT-style questions and common traps.
10 min answer →

How do you compute and interpret the mean, median, mode and range of a data set on the ACT?

Compute the mean, median, mode and range of a data set, find a missing value given a target mean, and interpret which measure of centre best describes data (Statistics and Probability).
An ACT Statistics answer on measures of centre and spread: computing the mean, median, mode and range, finding a missing value for a target mean, and how outliers affect the mean versus the median, with worked ACT-style questions.
10 min answer →

How do you compute the probability of simple and compound events on the ACT?

Compute the probability of single events, complements, and compound events using the addition and multiplication rules, including independent and mutually exclusive events (Statistics and Probability).
An ACT Statistics answer on probability: the basic ratio of favorable to total outcomes, complements, the multiplication rule for independent events, and the addition rule for mutually exclusive events, with worked ACT-style questions and common traps.
10 min answer →

How do you compute a weighted average and the expected value of a random outcome on the ACT?

Compute weighted averages (such as a course grade from weighted components) and the expected value of a random variable as a probability-weighted sum (Statistics and Probability).
An ACT Statistics answer on weighted averages and expected value: combining values by their weights, computing a grade from weighted categories, and finding the expected value of a random outcome as a probability-weighted sum, with worked ACT-style questions.
10 min answer →