Dail Midgette

Millbrook High School
Wake County Schools
Mentors: Dr. Yufeng Liu, UNC-Chapel Hill; Dr. Helen Zhang, NC State University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation

Understanding Data Mining
Large sets of data, accessible through new technology, are paramount to forecasting trends in business and economics. In Algebra I, students typically study data sets with one predictor variable and one response variable. But in the real world, most response variables have numerous predictors which may significantly impact the data. It is important to be able to identify their effects and use them appropriately to make sound, valid predictions. Partnering with faculty from the Department of Statistics at NCSU, Ms. Midgette is working on lessons that will help her students navigate the basics of data mining, and then learn to determine which variables are most influential in a given situation.