ACT Science Flashcards: Interpreting Data From Tables

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Interpreting Data From Tables, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for ACT Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Calculate the mean of these values: 10, 20, 30, 40.

Answer: The mean is 25. Sum divided by count: $(10+20+30+40)/4 = 100/4 = 25$.

Flashcard 2: What is the correct first step when interpreting a scientific data table?

Answer: Read the title and all headers (including units). Understanding structure prevents misinterpretation of data.

Flashcard 3: What is the maximum value in this dataset: 3, 7, 11, 6?

Answer: The maximum value is 11. Compare all values to find the largest.

Flashcard 4: What is the rate if a table shows mass increases from $10\,\text{g}$ to $16\,\text{g}$ in $3\,\text{s}$?

Answer: $2\,\text{g}/\text{s}$. Change in mass over time: $(16-10)/3=2$.

Flashcard 5: What is $y$ at $x=4$ if a table shows a linear pattern: $(1,3)$, $(2,5)$, $(3,7)$?

Answer: $9$. Pattern increases by 2 each step: $7+2=9$.

Flashcard 6: Find the sum of the dataset: 4, 6, 8, 10.

Answer: The sum is 28. Add all values: $4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 28$.

Flashcard 7: What is the percent change from $80$ to $60$ for a table value that decreases?

Answer: $-25\%$. $(60-80)/80 \times 100\% = -25\%$.

Flashcard 8: What does it mean if a column is labeled "Concentration (mg/L)"?

Answer: Each value is a concentration measured in $\text{mg}/\text{L}$. Mass per volume unit indicates solution strength.

Flashcard 9: What is the independent variable in a table when one column is explicitly labeled as such?

Answer: The column labeled independent variable. The manipulated variable is what experimenters control.

Flashcard 10: What is the mean of the table values $4, 6, 8$?

Answer: $6$. Sum divided by count: $(4+6+8)/3=6$.

Flashcard 11: What is the correct first step when interpreting a scientific data table?

Answer: Read the title and all headers (including units). Understanding structure prevents misinterpretation of data.

Flashcard 12: What is the difference between two table entries $18.6$ and $17.9$?

Answer: $0.7$. Subtraction finds the absolute difference.

Flashcard 13: What is the ratio of two table values $12$ and $3$, expressed as $\frac{12}{3}$?

Answer: $4$. Division gives the multiplicative relationship.

Flashcard 14: Which value is the mode in this dataset: 1, 2, 2, 3, 4?

Answer: The mode is 2. The value 2 appears twice, more than others.

Flashcard 15: What is the correct interpretation if a table shows identical values for all trials under one condition?

Answer: The measured outcome is constant across those trials. No variation suggests controlled or stable conditions.

Flashcard 16: What is the range of this dataset: 4, 9, 15, 20?

Answer: The range is 16. Maximum minus minimum: $20 - 4 = 16$.

Flashcard 17: A table column is "Time (min)" and another is "Distance (m)"; what are the units of $\frac{\Delta d}{\Delta t}$?

Answer: $\text{m}/\text{min}$. Distance per time gives velocity units.

Flashcard 18: What is the mean value of data points 3, 5, 7, and 9?

Answer: The mean is 6. Sum all values and divide by the count: $(3+5+7+9)/4 = 24/4 = 6$.

Flashcard 19: Identify the minimum in the table set $\{0.12, 0.08, 0.15, 0.10\}$.

Answer: $0.08$. Smallest value in the given set.

Flashcard 20: What is the percent change from $80$ to $60$ for a table value that decreases?

Answer: $-25\%$. $(60-80)/80 \times 100\% = -25\%$.

Flashcard 21: What does it mean if two columns increase together across rows in a table?

Answer: They show a positive association in the listed range. Variables change in the same direction together.

Flashcard 22: If a table lists "Temperature (°C)" what is the temperature in °C for the entry labeled $25$?

Answer: $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. The value directly gives degrees Celsius.

Flashcard 23: What does the unit shown in a table header indicate about every value in that column?

Answer: Each entry is measured in that unit. The unit applies uniformly to all data in that column.

Flashcard 24: Which column shows consistent growth if values are 2, 4, 8?

Answer: Exponential growth. Each value doubles: geometric growth pattern.

Flashcard 25: Convert the table value $450\,\text{mg}$ to grams using $1000\,\text{mg}=1\,\text{g}$.

Answer: $0.45\,\text{g}$. Divide by conversion factor: $450/1000$.

Flashcard 26: Which value is the mode in this dataset: 3, 5, 5, 7, 8?

Answer: The mode is 5. The value 5 appears twice, more than others.

Flashcard 27: What is the correct interpretation if a table shows identical values for all trials under one condition?

Answer: The measured outcome is constant across those trials. No variation suggests controlled or stable conditions.

Flashcard 28: Determine the smallest value in the dataset: 19, 7, 14, 22.

Answer: The smallest value is 7. Compare all values to find the minimum.

Flashcard 29: What is the meaning of "rate" when computed from two table entries over time?

Answer: Rate $=\frac{\Delta \text{quantity}}{\Delta \text{time}}$. Change per unit time measures process speed.

Flashcard 30: Determine the smallest value in this dataset: 9, 8, 7, 5.

Answer: The smallest value is 5. Compare all values to identify the minimum.

Flashcard 31: Which value is larger: $0.08$ or $7\times 10^{-2}$ (as might appear in a table)?

Answer: $0.08$. $7 \times 10^{-2} = 0.07 < 0.08$.

Flashcard 32: Identify the median of the dataset: 8, 3, 5, 7, 10.

Answer: The median is 7. Sort the data and find the middle value: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10.

Flashcard 33: Determine the smallest value in the dataset: 15, 12, 9, 18.

Answer: The smallest value is 9. Compare all values to find the smallest.

Flashcard 34: Which value is the mode of the dataset: 7, 8, 7, 5, 9?

Answer: The mode is 7. The value 7 appears twice, more than any other value.

Flashcard 35: What is the median of the ordered values $2, 5, 9, 12, 20$ in a table row?

Answer: $9$. Middle value when data is arranged in order.

Flashcard 36: Identify the correct rule for selecting a value when asked for the "closest" table value.

Answer: Choose the entry with smallest absolute difference. Minimize distance to find the nearest match.

Flashcard 37: What is the correct conclusion if a table shows overlapping uncertainty ranges for two conditions?

Answer: A clear difference is not established by the data alone. Uncertainty overlap prevents definitive comparison.

Flashcard 38: Calculate the mean of the dataset: 5, 10, 15, 20.

Answer: The mean is 12.5. Sum divided by count: $(5+10+15+20)/4 = 50/4 = 12.5$.

Flashcard 39: Identify the median of these values: 9, 2, 5, 7, 3.

Answer: The median is 5. Sort and find middle: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9.

Flashcard 40: What does the unit shown in a table header indicate about every value in that column?

Answer: Each entry is measured in that unit. The unit applies uniformly to all data in that column.

Flashcard 41: Find the sum of the dataset: 6, 2, 4, 8.

Answer: The sum is 20. Add all values: $6 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 20$.

Flashcard 42: Find the interpolated value at $x=5$ if a table shows $(4, 20)$ and $(6, 30)$ with a linear trend.

Answer: $25$. Linear interpolation: $20 + (30-20) \times (5-4)/(6-4)$.

Flashcard 43: Which value is the mode in this dataset: 2, 4, 4, 5, 6?

Answer: The mode is 4. The value 4 appears twice, more than others.

Flashcard 44: What is the mode in this dataset: 4, 4, 6, 8, 9?

Answer: The mode is 4. The value that appears most frequently in the dataset.

Flashcard 45: What is the range of this dataset: 3, 8, 13, 18?

Answer: The range is 15. Maximum minus minimum: $18 - 3 = 15$.

Flashcard 46: Identify the median of these values: 6, 3, 8, 5, 9.

Answer: The median is 6. Sort and find middle: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9.

Flashcard 47: What is the meaning of "range" for a set of table values?

Answer: Range $=$ maximum minus minimum. Measures the spread of data values.

Flashcard 48: Identify the maximum in the table set $\{2.1, 2.4, 1.9, 2.3\}$.

Answer: $2.4$. Largest value in the given set.

Flashcard 49: What does it mean if one column increases while another decreases across rows in a table?

Answer: They show a negative association in the listed range. Variables change in opposite directions.

Flashcard 50: If a table lists "Temperature (°C)" what is the temperature in °C for the entry labeled $25$?

Answer: $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. The value directly gives degrees Celsius.

Flashcard 51: What is the mode in this dataset: 4, 4, 6, 8, 9?

Answer: The mode is 4. The value that appears most frequently in the dataset.

Flashcard 52: Which column shows consistent growth if values are 2, 4, 8?

Answer: Exponential growth. Each value doubles: geometric growth pattern.

Flashcard 53: What is the maximum value in this dataset: 1, 4, 7, 3?

Answer: The maximum value is 7. Compare all values to identify the largest.

Flashcard 54: What is the maximum value in this dataset: 3, 7, 11, 6?

Answer: The maximum value is 11. Compare all values to find the largest.

Flashcard 55: Identify the minimum in the table set $\{0.12, 0.08, 0.15, 0.10\}$.

Answer: $0.08$. Smallest value in the given set.

Flashcard 56: What does a blank cell in a data table most commonly represent in ACT Science contexts?

Answer: No data recorded or not applicable for that condition. Missing data indicates measurement wasn't taken.

Flashcard 57: Calculate the mean of the dataset: 6, 8, 10, 12.

Answer: The mean is 9. Sum divided by count: $(6+8+10+12)/4 = 36/4 = 9$.

Flashcard 58: Find the sum of the dataset: 11, 13, 15, 17.

Answer: The sum is 56. Add all values: $11 + 13 + 15 + 17 = 56$.

Flashcard 59: What is the dependent variable in a table when one column is explicitly labeled as such?

Answer: The column labeled dependent variable. The response variable is what experimenters measure.

Flashcard 60: Calculate the mean of the dataset: 12, 15, 11, 14.

Answer: The mean is 13. Sum all values and divide by count: $(12+15+11+14)/4 = 52/4 = 13$.

Flashcard 61: What is the independent variable in a table when one column is explicitly labeled as such?

Answer: The column labeled independent variable. The manipulated variable is what experimenters control.

Flashcard 62: What is the range of this dataset: 5, 10, 15, 20?

Answer: The range is 15. Maximum minus minimum: $20 - 5 = 15$.

Flashcard 63: What is the slope between table points $(t, y)$ of $(2, 5)$ and $(6, 13)$?

Answer: $2$. Rise over run: $(13-5)/(6-2)=2$.

Flashcard 64: Identify the median of the dataset: 14, 7, 12, 9, 11.

Answer: The median is 11. Sort and find middle: 7, 9, 11, 12, 14.

Flashcard 65: Which value represents the range of 3, 8, 2, 10?

Answer: The range is 8. Subtract the smallest from the largest: $10 - 2 = 8$.

Flashcard 66: What does it mean if one column increases while another decreases across rows in a table?

Answer: They show a negative association in the listed range. Variables change in opposite directions.

Flashcard 67: Identify the median of these values: 5, 13, 8, 10, 12.

Answer: The median is 10. Sort and find middle: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13.

Flashcard 68: What is the sum of all values in the dataset: 1, 2, 3, 4?

Answer: The sum is 10. Add all values together: $1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10$.

Flashcard 69: Identify the median of the dataset: 8, 3, 5, 7, 10.

Answer: The median is 7. Sort the data and find the middle value: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10.

Flashcard 70: What does a table entry written as "$3.2\pm 0.1$" typically represent?

Answer: A value with uncertainty: $3.2$ with margin $0.1$. Plus-minus notation shows measurement uncertainty.

Flashcard 71: Convert the table value $2.5\,\text{L}$ to milliliters using $1\,\text{L}=1000\,\text{mL}$.

Answer: $2500\,\text{mL}$. Multiply by conversion factor: $2.5 \times 1000$.

Flashcard 72: Identify the correct rule for selecting a value when asked for the "closest" table value.

Answer: Choose the entry with smallest absolute difference. Minimize distance to find the nearest match.

Flashcard 73: Find the sum of the dataset: 11, 13, 15, 17.

Answer: The sum is 56. Add all values: $11 + 13 + 15 + 17 = 56$.

Flashcard 74: What is the correct interpretation if a table shows a monotonic increase down a column as the independent variable increases?

Answer: The dependent variable increases as the independent variable increases. Direct relationship between variables is evident.

Flashcard 75: Calculate the mean of these values: 10, 20, 30, 40.

Answer: The mean is 25. Sum divided by count: $(10+20+30+40)/4 = 100/4 = 25$.

Flashcard 76: Determine the smallest value in the dataset: 8, 5, 12, 15.

Answer: The smallest value is 5. Compare all values to find the smallest.

Flashcard 77: Which value is the mode in this dataset: 9, 3, 9, 6, 7?

Answer: The mode is 9. The value 9 appears twice, more than others.

Flashcard 78: What is the range of the dataset: 2, 5, 9, 12?

Answer: The range is 10. Subtract minimum from maximum: $12 - 2 = 10$.

Flashcard 79: What does the symbol "$\times 10^n$" in a table header tell you to do to each listed value?

Answer: Multiply each listed value by $10^n$. Scientific notation scaling factor for large/small values.

Flashcard 80: What is the dependent variable in a table when one column is explicitly labeled as such?

Answer: The column labeled dependent variable. The response variable is what experimenters measure.

Flashcard 81: What is the slope between table points $(t, y)$ of $(2, 5)$ and $(6, 13)$?

Answer: $2$. Rise over run: $(13-5)/(6-2)=2$.

Flashcard 82: What does a footnote marker (such as "*") next to a table value indicate?

Answer: A special condition or note applies to that value. Footnotes provide additional context or exceptions.

Flashcard 83: What is the range of this dataset: 4, 9, 15, 20?

Answer: The range is 16. Maximum minus minimum: $20 - 4 = 16$.

Flashcard 84: What does it mean if a column is labeled "Concentration (mg/L)"?

Answer: Each value is a concentration measured in $\text{mg}/\text{L}$. Mass per volume unit indicates solution strength.

Flashcard 85: What is the range of this dataset: 10, 15, 20, 25?

Answer: The range is 15. Maximum minus minimum: $25 - 10 = 15$.

Flashcard 86: What is the range of this dataset: 10, 15, 20, 25?

Answer: The range is 15. Maximum minus minimum: $25 - 10 = 15$.

Flashcard 87: Convert the table value $2.5\,\text{L}$ to milliliters using $1\,\text{L}=1000\,\text{mL}$.

Answer: $2500\,\text{mL}$. Multiply by conversion factor: $2.5 \times 1000$.

Flashcard 88: Convert the table value $450\,\text{mg}$ to grams using $1000\,\text{mg}=1\,\text{g}$.

Answer: $0.45\,\text{g}$. Divide by conversion factor: $450/1000$.

Flashcard 89: What is the percent change from $50$ to $65$ for a table value that increases?

Answer: $30\%$. $(65-50)/50 \times 100\% = 30\%$.

Flashcard 90: Calculate the mean of the dataset: 6, 8, 10, 12.

Answer: The mean is 9. Sum divided by count: $(6+8+10+12)/4 = 36/4 = 9$.

Flashcard 91: What is the range of the table values $3, 7, 7, 10$?

Answer: $7$. Maximum minus minimum: $10-3=7$.

Flashcard 92: What is the correct action if a question asks for a value "between" two table entries not explicitly listed?

Answer: Estimate by interpolation between the nearest entries. Use proportional reasoning between known points.

Flashcard 93: Find the sum of this dataset: 7, 9, 11, 13.

Answer: The sum is 40. Add all values: $7 + 9 + 11 + 13 = 40$.

Flashcard 94: Identify the median of these values: 5, 13, 8, 10, 12.

Answer: The median is 10. Sort and find middle: 5, 8, 10, 12, 13.

Flashcard 95: What is the correct conclusion if a table shows overlapping uncertainty ranges for two conditions?

Answer: A clear difference is not established by the data alone. Uncertainty overlap prevents definitive comparison.

Flashcard 96: What is the ratio of two table values $12$ and $3$, expressed as $\frac{12}{3}$?

Answer: $4$. Division gives the multiplicative relationship.

Flashcard 97: What is the maximum value in this dataset: 4, 10, 9, 3?

Answer: The maximum value is 10. Compare all values to find the largest.

Flashcard 98: What does the symbol "$\times 10^n$" in a table header tell you to do to each listed value?

Answer: Multiply each listed value by $10^n$. Scientific notation scaling factor for large/small values.

Flashcard 99: Which value is the mode in this dataset: 1, 2, 2, 3, 4?

Answer: The mode is 2. The value 2 appears twice, more than others.

Flashcard 100: What is the maximum value in this dataset: 2, 4, 6, 8?

Answer: The maximum value is 8. Compare all values to identify the largest.