Instructions
Welcome, weather detective! The table below shows the daily high and low temperatures (in Celsius) for one week in the chilly city of Snowy Peaks. Use the data in the table to perform the calculations and answer the questions that follow. Remember to show your work!
Temperature Data for Snowy Peaks
| Day of the Week | High Temperature (°C) | Low Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3°C | -4°C |
| Tuesday | 5°C | -3°C |
| Wednesday | 2°C | -5°C |
| Thursday | -1°C | -8°C |
| Friday | 0°C | -7°C |
| Saturday | -2°C | -9°C |
| Sunday | 4°C | -4°C |
Part 1: Daily Temperature Range
The range is the difference between the high and low temperature for a single day. Calculate the daily temperature range for each day below.
- Monday: __________________
- Tuesday: __________________
- Wednesday: __________________
- Thursday: __________________
- Friday: __________________
- Saturday: __________________
- Sunday: __________________
Part 2: Weekly Analysis
Now, let's look at the data for the whole week. Answer the following questions about the high and low temperatures.
- What was the mean (average) high temperature for the week? (Round your answer to one decimal place).
Work:
Answer: __________________ - What was the median high temperature for the week? (Hint: List the numbers in order first).
Work:
Answer: __________________ - What was the range of the high temperatures for the entire week? (Highest high - Lowest high).
Work:
Answer: __________________ - What was the mean (average) low temperature for the week? (Round your answer to one decimal place).
Work:
Answer: __________________ - What was the mode of the low temperatures for the week?
Answer: __________________
Part 3: Critical Thinking
Use your math skills to solve these temperature puzzles!
- Which day of the week had the largest temperature range?
Answer: __________________ - The temperature on Saturday was exactly halfway between the high and the low at midnight. What was the temperature at midnight on Saturday?
Work:
Answer: __________________
Answer Key
Part 1: Daily Temperature Range
- Monday: 7°C (3 - (-4) = 7)
- Tuesday: 8°C (5 - (-3) = 8)
- Wednesday: 7°C (2 - (-5) = 7)
- Thursday: 7°C (-1 - (-8) = 7)
- Friday: 7°C (0 - (-7) = 7)
- Saturday: 7°C (-2 - (-9) = 7)
- Sunday: 8°C (4 - (-4) = 8)
Part 2: Weekly Analysis
- Mean High: (3 + 5 + 2 + (-1) + 0 + (-2) + 4) / 7 = 11 / 7 ≈ 1.6°C
- Median High: List in order: -2, -1, 0, 2, 3, 4, 5. The middle number is 2°C.
- Range of Highs: 5 - (-2) = 7°C
- Mean Low: (-4 + (-3) + (-5) + (-8) + (-7) + (-9) + (-4)) / 7 = -40 / 7 ≈ -5.7°C
- Mode of Lows: -4°C (It appears twice, more than any other temperature).
Part 3: Critical Thinking
- Tuesday and Sunday both had the largest temperature range of 8°C.
- The temperature halfway between -2°C and -9°C.
Work: (-2 + (-9)) / 2 = -11 / 2 = -5.5.
Answer: -5.5°C