Question ID 85939da5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving and Inference from
Data Analysis sample statistics and
margin of error
ID: 85939da5
Does not talk
Texting Talks on cell on cell phone
behavior phone daily daily Total
Light 110 146 256
Medium 139 164 303
Heavy 166 74 240
Total 415 384 799
In a study of cell phone use, 799 randomly selected US teens were asked how
often they talked on a cell phone and about their texting behavior. The data are
summarized in the table above. Based on the data from the study, an estimate of
the percent of US teens who are heavy texters is 30% and the associated margin of
error is 3%. Which of the following is a correct statement based on the given
margin of error?
A. Approximately 3% of the teens in the study who are classified as heavy texters are not really heavy texters.
B. It is not possible that the percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is less than 27%.
C. The percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is 33%.
D. It is doubtful that the percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is 35%.
ID: 85939da5 Answer
Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The given margin of error of 3% indicates that the actual percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is
likely within 3% of the estimate of 30%, or between 27% and 33%. Therefore, it is unlikely, or doubtful, that the percent of all
US teens who are heavy texters would be 35%.
Choice A is incorrect. The margin of error doesn’t provide any information about the accuracy of reporting in the study.
Choice B is incorrect. Based on the estimate and given margin of error, it is unlikely that the percent of all US teens who are
heavy texters would be less than 27%, but it is possible. Choice C is incorrect. While the percent of all US teens who are
heavy texters is likely between 27% and 33%, any value within this interval is equally likely. We can’t be certain that the value
is exactly 33%.
Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 308084c5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving and Inference from
Data Analysis sample statistics and
margin of error
ID: 308084c5
Sample Percent in favor Margin of error
A 52% 4.2%
B 48% 1.6%
The results of two random samples of votes for a proposition are shown above.
The samples were selected from the same population, and the margins of error
were calculated using the same method. Which of the following is the most
appropriate reason that the margin of error for sample A is greater than the margin
of error for sample B?
A. Sample A had a smaller number of votes that could not be recorded.
B. Sample A had a higher percent of favorable responses.
C. Sample A had a larger sample size.
D. Sample A had a smaller sample size.
ID: 308084c5 Answer
Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. Sample size is an appropriate reason for the margin of error to change. In general, a smaller sample size
increases the margin of error because the sample may be less representative of the whole population.
Choice A is incorrect. The margin of error will depend on the size of the sample of recorded votes, not the number of votes
that could not be recorded. In any case, the smaller number of votes that could not be recorded for sample A would tend to
decrease, not increase, the comparative size of the margin of error. Choice B is incorrect. Since the percent in favor for
sample A is the same distance from 50% as the percent in favor for sample B, the percent of favorable responses doesn’t
affect the comparative size of the margin of error for the two samples. Choice C is incorrect. If sample A had a larger margin
of error than sample B, then sample A would tend to be less representative of the population. Therefore, sample A is not
likely to have a larger sample size.
Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 9ba3e283
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving and Inference from
Data Analysis sample statistics and
margin of error
ID: 9ba3e283
In State X, Mr. Camp’s eighth-grade class consisting of 26 students was surveyed
and 34.6 percent of the students reported that they had at least two siblings. The
average eighth‑grade class size in the state is 26. If the students in Mr. Camp’s
class are representative of students in the state’s eighth-grade classes and there
are 1,800 eighth-grade classes in the state, which of the following best estimates
the number of eighth‑grade students in the state who have fewer than two
siblings?
A. 16,200
B. 23,400
C. 30,600
D. 46,800
ID: 9ba3e283 Answer
Correct Answer:
C
Rationale
Choice C is correct. It is given that 34.6% of 26 students in Mr. Camp’s class reported that they had at least two siblings.
Since 34.6% of 26 is 8.996, there must have been 9 students in the class who reported having at least two siblings and 17
students who reported that they had fewer than two siblings. It is also given that the average eighth-grade class size in the
state is 26 and that Mr. Camp’s class is representative of all eighth-grade classes in the state. This means that in each
eighth-grade class in the state there are about 17 students who have fewer than two siblings. Therefore, the best estimate of
the number of eighth-grade students in the state who have fewer than two siblings is 17 × (number of eighth-grade classes in
the state), or .
Choice A is incorrect because 16,200 is the best estimate for the number of eighth-grade students in the state who have at
least, not fewer than, two siblings. Choice B is incorrect because 23,400 is half of the estimated total number of eighth-grade
students in the state; however, since the students in Mr. Camp’s class are representative of students in the eighth-grade
classes in the state and more than half of the students in Mr. Camp’s class have fewer than two siblings, more than half of
the students in each eighth-grade class in the state have fewer than two siblings, too. Choice D is incorrect because 46,800
is the estimated total number of eighth-grade students in the state.
Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 916ffe9b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Math Problem-Solving and Inference from
Data Analysis sample statistics and
margin of error
ID: 916ffe9b
Poll Results
Angel Cruz
Terry Smith
The table shows the results of a poll. A total of voters selected at random were asked which candidate they would vote
for in the upcoming election. According to the poll, if people vote in the election, by how many votes would Angel Cruz
be expected to win?
A.
B.
C.
D.
ID: 916ffe9b Answer
Correct Answer:
B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. It's given that out of voters responded that they would vote for Angel Cruz. Therefore, the
proportion of voters from the poll who responded they would vote for Angel Cruz is . It’s also given that there are a total
of voters in the election. Therefore, the total number of people who would be expected to vote for Angel Cruz is
, or . Since of the total voters would be expected to vote for Angel Cruz, it follows that
, or voters would be expected not to vote for Angel Cruz. The difference in the number of votes for and
against Angel Cruz is , or votes. Therefore, if people vote in the election, Angel Cruz would be
expected to win by votes.
Choice A is incorrect. This is the difference in the number of voters from the poll who responded that they would vote for and
against Angel Cruz.
Choice C is incorrect. This is the total number of people who would be expected to vote for Angel Cruz.
Choice D is incorrect. This is the difference between the total number of people who vote in the election and the number of
voters from the poll.
Question Difficulty:
Hard