Star Library: Breaking the Code -- A Graphical Exploration Using Bar Charts

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Title:

Star Library: Breaking the Code -- A Graphical Exploration Using Bar Charts

Url:

https://www.causeweb.org/cause/archive/repository/StarLibrary/activiti...

Creator:

Gabrosek, John
Schuckers, Michael E.

Publisher:

Grand Valley State University
West Virginia University

Description: The Caesar Shift is a translation of the alphabet; for example, a five-letter shift would code the letter a as f, b as g, ... z as e. We describe a five-step process for decoding an encrypted message. First, groups of size 4 construct a frequency table of the letters in two lines of a coded message. Second, students construct a bar chart for a reference message of the frequency of letters in the English language. Third, students create a bar chart of the coded message. Fourth, students visually compare the bar chart of the reference message (step 2) to the bar chart of the coded message (step 3). Based on this comparison, students hypothesize a shift. Fifth, students apply the shift to the coded message. After decoding the message, students are asked a series of questions that assess their ability to see patterns. The questions are geared for higher levels of cognitive reasoning.

LC Classification:

Science -- Mathematics -- Mathematical statistics -- Addresses, essays, lectures
Science -- Mathematics -- Mathematical statistics -- Graphic methods
Science -- Mathematics -- Probabilities -- Addresses, essays, lectures
Social sciences -- Statistics -- Theory and method of social science statistics -- Hypothesis testing

GEM Subject:

Mathematics -- Statistics
Mathematics -- Probability

Key Concept:

Mathematics -- Graphs
Mathematics -- Hypothesis testing
Mathematics -- Probability
Mathematics -- Statistics

Date Issued:

2001

Resource Type:

Reference Material
Instructional Material
Instructional Material -- Lesson/Lesson Plan
Instructional Material -- Instructor Guide/Manual

Format:

Document -- HTML

Audience:

Educator
Learner

Education Level:

High School
Higher Education
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Lower Division)
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Lower Division)
Vocational/Professional Development Education

Language:

English

Rights:

John Gabrosek and Michael E. Schuckers

Access Rights:

Free access

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Source:

CAUSEweb

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