Data Analysis & Visualization | AP CSP Daily Practice Day 11

Big Idea 2: Data
Day 11 Practice - AP CSP Daily Question
[FOCUS] Data Analysis and Visualization

Practice Question

A researcher collects data about average daily temperatures over 30 days. The data set includes temperatures ranging from 45 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The researcher creates a line graph to visualize the data.
Which of the following questions could NOT be answered by analyzing this visualization alone?
What This Tests: Big Idea 2 covers how data visualizations help identify patterns and trends, but they cannot explain causation or reasons behind the data.

Why C is Correct

A line graph shows WHAT happened (the temperature dropped) but cannot explain WHY it happened. Determining causation requires additional information beyond what any visualization can provide.

The visualization can show:

  • Patterns and trends over time
  • Maximum and minimum values
  • Counts of values meeting certain criteria
  • The shape and direction of change

But visualizations cannot explain the underlying causes of the patterns they reveal.

Common Mistakes

Mistake: Thinking visualizations explain causation

Correlation shown in data does not equal causation. A graph might show that ice cream sales and drowning deaths both increase in summer, but it cannot explain why (both are caused by hot weather, not each other).

[TIP] AP Exam Strategy

When asked what a visualization CANNOT do, look for answer choices involving "why" questions or causation. Data shows patterns; understanding causes requires context and domain knowledge.

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