Lesson: Sample and Population Mathematics

In this lesson, we will learn how to determine when to choose between taking a sample and a census.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

understand the definition of a population and a sample,
understand the definition of sampling units and a sampling frame,
identify the advantages and disadvantages of samplings versus censuses,
choose whether to use a sample or a census in a given situation,
understand that the size of a sample affects the validity of conclusions.

Lesson Explainer

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

To determine the popularity of different meals at a school, the school staff send questionnaires to 100 of the school’s 500 students. What is the population of this study?

Q2:

A government wants to determine the average age of the country’s population, so they question every citizen. What type of data set is used in this study?

Q3:

A local motoring company wants to determine the average number of cars per household in a town. They survey every household in the town. What is the sampling unit in this survey?