Practice Assignment (to be discussed Wed., Feb. 10)

1) (a) In each case, which would probably be higher - the mean or the median, or would they be about equal? Explain.

- Salaries in a company employing 100 factory workers and two high-paid executives.

- Shoe sizes of adult women.

(b) If you were ordering shoes for your store, and you got one number, would you rather know the mean or the median? Explain.

2)1.43 (p. 59)

3) 1.49, 1.51 (p. 61)

4) 1.74 (p. 87)

Homework Assignment (due Friday, Feb. 12)

1) 1.42 (p. 59)

2) 1.45 (p. 60), remember to show lots of work

3) 1.55 (p. 61)

4) 2. (a) Which of the following distributions shows MORE variability?

(b) Briefly explain your choice of distribution to a student not taking a Statistics course.

5) For each of the following arguments, explain why the conclusion drawn is not valid. Also include a simple hypothetical example which illustrates that the conclusion drawn need not follow from the information.

(a) A real estate agent notes that the mean housing price for an area is $125,780 and concludes that half of the houses in the area cost more than that.

(b) A businesswoman calculates that the median cost of the five business trips that she took in a month is $600 and concludes that the total cost must have been $3000.

(c) A company executive concludes that an accountant must have made a mistake because she prepared a report stating that 90% of the company's employees earn less than the mean salary.

(d) A restaurant owner decides that more than half of her customers prefer chocolate ice cream because chocolate is the mode when customers are offered their choice of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

6) 1.98 (p. 91)

Possible Extensions Topics (see webpage and syllabus for more information)

• The file "HRs.mtw" contains more information about McGwire and Sosa's homerun prowess. Examine the data in more detail, explain what you found interesting.
• Analyze recent articles on the current Census debate. For example, discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling.
• There are many signs on campus recruiting interviewers of the upcoming census. Participate in this process and write about your results.