Statistics is a powerful and relatively new branch of mathematics that enables analysis and interpretation of data and summarization of data as graphical displays. Graphical displays are relatively new, invented in late 18
th
century, and can instantly convey a large amount of information (Tufte, 2001). In an era of increasing amounts of information, and increasing rate of collection of information, the ability to represent large data sets with a graphic and to analyze large data sets is important. Statistics is now said to “encompass … the entire problem of making decisions in the face of uncertainty (Miller, 1999)”. In an era of ever-increasing energy and resource demands, the ability to live efficiently with minimal environmental impact is important for students in both economical and environmental senses.