Data set
This page provides the definition for a mathematics term.
About this resource
A glossary of terms used in mathematics.
Data set
A table of numbers, words, or symbols, the values of which are often the results of an experiment or observations. Data sets almost always have several variables.
Usually the columns of the table consist of variables, and the rows consist of values of each variable for individuals or values of each variable at different times.
Example 1 (values for individuals)
The table below shows part of a data set resulting from answers to an online questionnaire from 727 students enrolled in an introductory statistics course at the University of Auckland.
| Individual | Gender | Birth month | Birth year | Ethnicity | Number of years living in NZ |
Number of countries visited |
Actual weight (kg) |
Ideal weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2 3 . . . |
female female male . . . |
Jan Nov Jan . . . |
1984 1990 1990 . . . |
Other European Chinese NZ European . . . |
2 15 18 . . . |
3 11 2 . . . |
55 53 68 . . . |
50 49 60 . . . |
Example 2 (values at different times)
The table below shows part of a data set resulting from observations at a weather station in Rolleston, Canterbury, for each day in November 2008.
| Day | Max temp (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Max pressure (hPa) | Max wind gust (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2 3 . . . |
26.8 19.7 19.5 . . . |
0.5 0.0 0.0 . . . |
1015.1 1015.6 1011.1 . . . |
70.3 38.9 29.6 . . . |
Alternative: dataset
Curriculum achievement objectives references
Statistical investigation: Levels 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
The quality of the images on this page may vary depending on the device you are using.