1.1 Definitions of Statistics, Probability, and Key Terms
For each of the following eight exercises, identify: a. the population, b. the sample, c. the parameter, d. the t atistic, e. the
variable, and f. the data. Give examples where appropriate.

  1. A fitness center is interested in the mean amount of time a client exercises in the center each week.
  2. Ski resorts are interested in the mean age that children take their first ski and snowboard lessons. They need this
    information to plan their ski classes optimally.
  3. A cardiologist is interested in the mean recovery period of her patients who have had heart attacks.
  4. Insurance companies are interested in the mean health costs each year of their clients, so that they can determine the costs
    of health insurance.
  5. A politician is interested in the proportion of voters in his district who think he is doing a good job.
  6. A marriage counselor is interested in the proportion of clients she counsels who stay married.
  7. Political pollsters may be interested in the proportion of people who will vote for a particular cause.
  8. A marketing company is interested in the proportion of people who will buy a particular product.
    Use the following information to answer the next three exercises: A Lake Tahoe Community College instructor is interested
    in the mean number of days Lake Tahoe Community College math students are absent from class during a quarter.
  9. What is the population she is interested in?
    a. all Lake Tahoe Community College students
    b. all Lake Tahoe Community College English students
    c. all Lake Tahoe Community College students in her classes
    d. all Lake Tahoe Community College math students
  10. Consider the following:
    X = number of days a Lake Tahoe Community College math student is absent
    In this case, X is an example of a:
    a. variable.
    b. population.
    c. statistic.
    d. data.
  11. The instructor’s sample produces a mean number of days absent of 3.5 days. This value is an example of a:
    a. parameter.
    b. data.
    c. statistic.
    d. variable.
    1.2 Data, Sampling, and Variation in Data and Sampling
    For the following exercises, identify the type of data that would be used to describe a response (quantitative discrete,
    quantitative continuous, or qualitative), and give an example of the data.
  12. number of tickets sold to a concert
  13. percent of body fat
  14. favorite baseball team
  15. time in line to buy groceries
  16. number of students enrolled at Evergreen Valley College
  17. most-watched television show
  18. brand of toothpaste
    34 Chapter 1 | Sampling and Data
    This OpenStax book is available for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11776/1.33
    ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-25, DUE TUESDAY, FEB 28
  19. distance to the closest movie theatre
  20. age of executives in Fortune 500 companies
  21. number of competing computer spreadsheet software packages
    Use the following information to answer the next two exercises: A study was done to determine the age, number of times
    per week, and the duration (amount of time) of resident use of a local park in San Jose. The first house in the neighborhood
    around the park was selected randomly and then every 8th house in the neighborhood around the park was interviewed.
  22. “Number of times per week” is what type of data?
    a. qualitative (categorical)
    b. quantitative discrete
    c. quantitative continuous
  23. “Duration (amount of time)” is what type of data?
    a. qualitative (categorical)
    b. quantitative discrete
    c. quantitative continuous
  24. Airline companies are interested in the consistency of the number of babies on each flight, so that they have adequate
    safety equipment. Suppose an airline conducts a survey. Over Thanksgiving weekend, it surveys six flights from Boston to
    Salt Lake City to determine the number of babies on the flights. It determines the amount of safety equipment needed by
    the result of that study.
    a. Using complete sentences, list three things wrong with the way the survey was conducted.
    b. Using complete sentences, list three ways that you would improve the survey if it were to be repeated.
  25. Suppose you want to determine the mean number of students per statistics class in your state. Describe a possible
    sampling method in three to five complete sentences. Make the description detailed.
  26. Suppose you want to determine the mean number of cans of soda drunk each month by students in their twenties at your
    school. Describe a possible sampling method in three to five complete sentences. Make the description detailed.
  27. List some practical difficulties involved in getting accurate results from a telephone survey.
  28. List some practical difficulties involved in getting accurate results from a mailed survey.
  29. With your classmates, brainstorm some ways you could overcome these problems if you needed to conduct a phone or
    mail survey.
  30. The instructor takes her sample by gathering data on five randomly selected students from each Lake Tahoe Community
    College math class. The type of sampling she used is
    a. cluster sampling
    b. stratified sampling
    c. simple random sampling
    d. convenience sampling
  31. A study was done to determine the age, number of times per week, and the duration (amount of time) of residents using
    a local park in San Jose. The first house in the neighborhood around the park was selected randomly and then every eighth
    house in the neighborhood around the park was interviewed. The sampling method was:
    a. simple random
    b. systematic
    c. stratified
    d. cluster

Sample Solution

This question has been answered.

Get Answer