Which of the following best describes how histograms can help you understand a population?

• A. They are used to calculate the $\mathrm{mean}$ and $\mathrm{standard\; deviation}$ directly without any further analysis.
• B. They only show the relationship between two variables in a population.
• C. They show the distribution of data by grouping values into intervals, allowing you to see patterns such as $\mathrm{skewness}$, $\mathrm{modality}$, and $\mathrm{spread}$.
• D. They display the exact value of every individual data point in the population.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a histogram is a graphical representation of data distribution, where data values are grouped into intervals called bins.
2. Recognize that histograms help visualize the frequency or count of data points within each bin, which reveals the shape of the data distribution.
3. Note that histograms allow you to observe important characteristics of the data such as skewness (asymmetry), modality (number of peaks), and spread (range and variability).
4. Remember that histograms do not provide exact values of individual data points, nor do they directly calculate statistical measures like mean or standard deviation without further analysis.
5. Conclude that the best description of how histograms help understand a population is by showing the distribution of data grouped into intervals, making patterns in the data visible.