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Each dot plot below represents a different set of data. Order the data sets from largest standard deviation (top) to smallest standard deviation (bottom).

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Final answer:

To order data sets from largest to smallest standard deviation, consider the spread of data points on dot plots; a wider spread indicates a larger standard deviation. Symmetry and skewness affect the usefulness of standard deviation in understanding data variation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of your question involves ordering data sets based on their standard deviation. Standard deviation is a measure of the variation or spread of a set of values. Data sets with a larger standard deviation have values that are spread out more widely from the mean, whereas data sets with a smaller standard deviation have values that are closer to the mean.

When looking at dot plots to determine standard deviation, you would look for the spread of the data points. A dot plot with data points that are widely scattered would indicate a larger standard deviation, while a dot plot with data points that are clustered closely together would indicate a smaller standard deviation.

You should order the dot plots by visually analyzing the spread of each set of data from its center. Remember that for symmetrical distributions, standard deviation is very helpful, but for skewed distributions, it may be better to look at other measures such as the median or quartiles. In any case, at least 75% of data lies within two standard deviations from the mean, which is useful for comparisons.

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