STAT1600
Statistics:
Ideas
and
Concepts

Example
Class
1

1. In 7 days, Mario cooked 98 pounds of spaghetti. Each day after the first, he cooked 2 more
pounds than he cooked the day before. What is the difference between the mean number of
pounds of spaghetti he cooked per day and the median number of pounds he cooked during
the 7 days?
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Total
x x+2 x+4 x+6 x+8 x + 10 x + 12 98

Hence,

98
mean = = 14
7
and

x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) + (x + 6) + (x + 8) + (x + 10) + (x + 12) = 98
=⇒ x = 8

implying that

median = x+6
= 14.

Therefore, the difference between the mean and median is zero.

2. The mean of five different positive integers is 30. What is the greatest possible value of one
of these integers?
Since the mean is 30, then the sum of these five integers is

30 × 5 = 150.

In order for one to be as large as possible, the other four must be as small as possible (note
that they are all DIFFERENT and POSITIVE):

x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 = 150 =⇒ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + x5 = 150.

Hence, x5 = 140.

1
3. For the following data set taken from random samples, work out the mean and standard
deviation. One of the data sets must be incorrect, which one?
 
Data set Sample size xi x2i
A 25 50 1000
B 12 108 1139
C 40 2300 132000
D 85 491.3 2946.1

For data set A,

50
x =
25
= 2,
2 1  
s = 1000 − 25(2)2
25 − 1
= 37.5,
s = 6.123724357.

For data set B,

108
x =
12
= 9,
1  
s2 = 1139 − 12(9)2
12 − 1
= 15.18181818,
s = 3.896385271.

Data set C is an incorrect one, because

2300
x =
40
= 57.5,

but 132000 − (2300)2 ÷ 40 < 0.

For data set D,
491.3
x =
85
= 5.78,
1  
s2 = 2946.1 − 85(5.78)2
85 − 1
= 1.2665,
s = 1.125388822.

2
4. A Statistics course consisting of sixty boys and forty girls took a test. The means and
standard deviations of marks obtained by the two groups were as follows:

Mean Standard deviation

Boys 48 12
Girls 53 10

(a) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the combined group of 100 students.
(b) One of the candidate was awarded 100 marks and another, 0 mark. If it is decided
to discard these two records in summarizing the statistics, calculate the mean and the
standard deviation of the remaining 98 candidates.

(a) Consider

(60)(48) + (40)(53)
μ = = 50,
60 + 40
and
1  
σ2 = 60(122 + 482 ) + 40(102 + 532 ) − (60 + 40)(50)2 = 132.4
60 + 40
σ = 11.50651989.

2
(b) The mean is still 50. The new variance is σnew where
  2
2 x2B + x2G − 1002 − 02 − 98 (50)
σnew =
98
= 84.08163265
σnew = 9.169603735.

3
 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & concepts
Boxplots - with solutions

1. Answer the following questions for this sample of n = 11 data values.

The ordered data are:
11, 15, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 29

(a) Calculate the arithmetic mean of this sample.

217
ANSWER: x̄ = 11
= 19.7272727

(b) Calculate the median.

ANSWER: Med = Q2 = ( 11+1
2
)th score = 6th score = 20

(c) Calculate the first quartile.

ANSWER: Q1 = ( 11+1
4
)th score = 3rd score = 15

(d) Calculate the third quartile.

ANSWER: Q3 = ( 3∗(11+1)
4
)th score = 9th score = 23

(e) Calculate the range.

ANSWER: Range = 29 − 11 = 18

(f) Calculate the inter-quartile range.

ANSWER: IQR = Q3 − Q1 = 23 − 15 = 8

(g) Calculate the variance.

ANSWER: s2 = 26.01818182

(h) Calculate the standard deviation.

ANSWER: s = 5.100802076

(i) Calculate the coefficient of variation as a percentage.

s 5.100802076
ANSWER: CV = = = 25.8566003%
x̄ 19.7272727

(j) Give the values for the five-number summary:

min value ; Q1 ; Q2 ; Q3 ; max value

ANSWER:
min value = 11 ; Q1 = 15 ; Q2 = 20 ; Q3 = 23 ; max value = 29
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 2

(k) Construct a box-and-whisker plot.

S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 3

2. The rate of return (expressed as %’s) of a FORTUNE 500 company over the past
15 years are:

3.17, 4.43, 5.93, 5.43, 7.29, 8.21, 6.23, 5.23, 4.34, 6.68,
7.14, −5.56, −5.23, −5.73, −10.34

The ordered data are:

−10.34, −5.73, −5.56, −5.23, 3.17, 4.34, 4.43, 5.23, 5.43, 5.93,
6.23, 6.68, 7.14, 7.29, 8.21

(a) Calculate the arithmetic mean.

ANSWER: mean = 2.481333333%

(b) Calculate Q1 , Q2 and Q3

N +1 th
Q1 = 4
score = 4th score = −5.23%
N +1 th
Q2 = 2
score = 8th score = 5.23%
Q3 = ( 3∗(N4 +1) )th score = 12th score = 6.68%

(c) Calculate the range.

ANSWER: Range = 8.21 − (−10.34) = 18.55%

(d) Give the values for the five-number summary:

min value = -10.34 ; Q1 = −5.23 ; Q2 = 5.23 ; Q3 = 6.68 ; max value

= 8.21

(e) Construct a box-and-whisker plot.

(f) What is the shape of the distribution for the rate of return?
ANSWER: Left-skewed
 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & concepts
Definitions 1 - with solutions

1. Select the correct answer for the following multiple choice questions.

(a) The process of using sample statistics to draw conclusions about true popula-
tion parameters is called ..........................
(A) statistical inference.
(B) the scientific method.
(C) sampling.
(D) descriptive statistics.

ANSWER: A

(b) Those methods involving the collection, presentation, and characterization of

a set of data in order to properly describe the various features of that set of
data are called ..........................
(A) statistical inference.
(B) the scientific method.
(C) sampling.
(D) descriptive statistics.

ANSWER: D

(c) The estimation of the population average family expenditure on food based on
the sample average expenditure of 1,000 families is an example of .............................
(A) inferential statistics.
(B) descriptive statistics.
(C) a parameter.
(D) a statistic.

ANSWER: A

(d) The universe or “totality of items or things” under consideration is called

.........................
(A) a sample.
(B) a population.
(C) a parameter.
(D) a statistic.

ANSWER: B

(e) The portion of the universe that has been selected for analysis is called .................
(A) a sample.
(B) a frame.
(C) a parameter.
(D) a statistic.

ANSWER: A
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 2

(f) Which of the following statistics is not a measure of central tendency?

(A) arithmetic mean
(B) median
(C) mode
(D) Q3

ANSWER: D

(g) Which measure of central tendency can be used for both numerical and cate-
gorical variables?
(A) arithmetic mean
(B) median
(C) mode
(D) geometric mean

ANSWER: C

(h) Which of the arithmetic mean, median, mode, and geometric mean are resistant
measures of central tendency?
(A) arithmetic mean and median only
(B) median and mode only
(C) mode and geometric mean only
(D) arithmetic mean and mode only
ANSWER: B

(i) In a right-skewed distribution . . . . . .

(A) the median equals the arithmetic mean
(B) the median is less than the arithmetic mean
(C) the median is larger than the arithmetic mean
(D) none of A-C are correct.

ANSWER: B

(j) Which of the following statements about the median is not true?
(A) It is more affected by extreme values than the arithmetic mean.
(B) It is a measure of central tendency
(C) It is equal to Q2
(D) It is equal to the mode in bell-shaped “normal” distributions.

ANSWER: A

(k) In a perfectly symmetrical bell-shaped “normal” distribution . . . . . .

(A) the arithmetic mean equals the median
(B) the median equals the mode
(C) the arithmetic mean equals the mode
(D) All of the above.

ANSWER: D
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 3

(l) In a perfectly symmetrical . . . . . .

(A) the range equals the interquartile range.
(B) the interquartile range equals the arithmetic mean.
(C) the median equals the arithmetic mean.
(D) the variance equals the standard deviation.

ANSWER: C

(m) When extreme values are present in a set of data, which of the following de-
scriptive summary measures are most appropriate:
(A) CV and range
(B) arithmetic mean and standard deviation.
(C) interquartile range and median
(D) variance and interquartile range

ANSWER: C

(n) In general, which of the following descriptive summary measures cannot be

easily approximated from a box-and-whisker plot?
(A) the variance
(B) the range
(C) the interquartile range
(D) the median

ANSWER: A

(o) The smaller the spread of scores around the arithmetic mean . . . . . .
(A) the smaller the interquartile range.
(B) the smaller the standard deviation
(C) the smaller the coefficient of variation
(D) All of the above.

ANSWER: D

(p) Which descriptive summary measures are considered to be resistant statistics?

(A) The arithmetic mean and standard deviation.
(B) The interquartile range and range.
(C) The mode and variance
(D) The median and interquartile range.

ANSWER: D

(q) In right-skewed distributions, which of the following is the correct statement?

(A) The distance from Q1 to Q2 is larger than the distance from Q2 to Q3 .
(B) The distance from Q1 to Q2 is smaller than the distance from Q2 to Q3 .
(C) The arithmetic mean is smaller than the median
(D) The mode is larger than the arithmetic mean.

ANSWER: B
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 4

(r) In perfectly symmetrical distributions, which of the following is NOT a correct

statement?
(A) The distance from Q1 to Q2 equals the distance from Q2 to Q3 .
(B) The distance from the smallest observation to Q1 is the same as the distance
from Q3 to the largest observation.
(C) The distance from the smallest observation to Q2 is the same as the distance
from Q2 to the largest observation.
(D) The distance from Q1 to Q3 is half of the distance from the smallest to the
largest observation.

ANSWER: D

(s) In left-skewed distributions, which of the following is the correct statement?

(A) The distance from Q1 to Q2 is smaller than the distance from Q2 to Q3 .
(B) The distance from the smallest observation to Q1 is larger than the distance
from Q3 to the largest observation.
(C) The distance from the smallest observation to Q2 is smaller than the dis-
tance from Q2 to the largest observation.
(D) The distance from Q1 to Q3 is twice the distance from Q1 to Q2 .

ANSWER: B

(t) Which of the following statistics is NOT a measure of central tendency?

(A) The arithmetic mean
(B) The geometric mean
(C) The mode
(D) The interquartile range

ANSWER: D

(u) Which of the following is NOT sensitive to extreme values?

(A) The range
(B) The standard deviation
(C) The coefficient of variation
(D) The interquartile range

ANSWER: D

(v) Which of the following is sensitive to extreme values?

(A) The median
(B) The arithmetic mean
(C) The coefficient of variation
(D) The 1st quartile

ANSWER:
B





$
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 5

2. Select the correct answer for the following multiple choice questions.

(a) A study attempted to estimate the proportion of Florida residents who were
willing to spend more tax dollars on protecting the beaches from environmental
disasters. Twenty-five hundred Florida residents were surveyed. What type of
data collection procedure was most likely used to collect the data for this study?
(A) A designed experiment.
(B) A published source.
(C) A random sample.
(D) Observational data.
ANSWER: C

(b) Which of the following is most likely a population as opposed to a sample?

(A) Respondents to a newspaper survey.
(B) The first 5 students completing an assignment.
(C) Every third person to arrive at the bank.
(D) Registered voters in a city.
ANSWER: D

(c) A study is under way in Yosemite National Forest to determine the adult height
of American pine trees. Specifically, the study is attempting to determine what
factors aid a tree in reaching heights greater than 60 feet tall. It is estimated
that the forest contains 25, 000 adult American pines. The study involves
collecting heights from 250 randomly selected adult American pine trees and
analyzing the results.
(i) Identify the population from which the study was sampled.
(A) The 250 randomly selected adult American pine trees.
(B) The 25, 000 adult American pine trees in the forest.
(C) All the adult American pine trees taller than 60 feet.
(D) All American pine trees, of any age, in the forest.
ANSWER: B
(ii) Identify the variable of interest in the study.
(A) The age of an American pine tree in Yosemite National Forest.
(B) The height of an American pine tree in Yosemite National Forest.
(C) The number of American pine trees in Yosemite National Forest.
(D) The species of trees in Yosemite National Forest.
ANSWER: B
(iii) Identify the sample in the study.
(A) The 250 randomly selected adult American pine trees.
(B) The 25, 000 adult American pine trees in the forest.
(C) All the adult American pine trees taller than 60 feet.
(D) All American pine trees, of any age, in the forest.
ANSWER: A
S&AS: STAT1600 Statistics: Ideas & Concepts 6

(d) Researchers suspect that the average number of units earned per semester
by college students is rising. A researcher at Calendula College wishes to
estimate the number of units earned by students during the spring semester at
Calendula. To do so, he randomly selects 100 student transcripts and records
the number of units each student earned in the spring term. He found that the
average number of semester units completed was 12.96 units per student.
Identify the population of interest to the researcher.
(A) All Calendula College students.
(B) All college students.
(C) All Calendula College students enrolled in the spring.
(D) All college students enrolled in the spring.
ANSWER: C
(e) The average number of units earned per semester by college students is sus-
pected to be rising. A researcher at Calendula College wishes to estimate the
number of units earned by students during the spring semester at Calendula.
To do so, he randomly selects 100 student transcripts and records the number
of units each student earned in the spring term.
Identify the random variable of interest to the researcher.
(A) The number of students enrolled at Calendula College during the spring
term.
(B) The average indebtedness of Calendula College students enrolled in the
spring.
(C) The age of Calendula College students enrolled in the spring.
(D) The number of units earned by Calendula College students during the
spring term.
ANSWER: D
(f) Most analysts focus on the cost of tuition as the way to measure the cost of
a college education. But incidentals, such University wishes to estimate the
textbook costs of first-year students at Drummand. To do so, she monitored the
textbook cost of 250 first-year students and found that their average textbook
cost was $300 per semester.
(i) Identify the population of interest to the researcher.
(A) All Drummand University students.
(B) All college students.
(C) All first-year Drummand University students.
(D) The 250 students that were monitored.
ANSWER: C
(ii) Identify the variable of interest to the researcher.
(A) The textbook cost of first-year Drummand University students.
(B) The year in school of Drummand University students.
(C) The age of Drummand University students.
(D) The cost of incidental expenses of Drummand University students.
ANSWER: A
(iii) Identify the sample in the study.
(A) All Drummand University students.
(B) All college students.
(C) All first-year Drummand University students.
(D) The 250 students that were monitored.
ANSWER: D
 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
STAT1600 Statistics:Ideas & Concepts

Example Class 1 - Stem & Leaf ANSWERS

1. The stem and leaf display below represents the number of times in a
year that a random sample of 100 “lifetime” members of a health club
actually visited the facility.

0| 012222233333344566666667789999
1| 1111222234444455669999
2| 00011223455556889
3| 0000446799
4| 011345567
5| 0077
6| 8
7| 67
8| 3
9| 0247

(a) How many times did the person who has the largest leaf associated
with the smallest stem visit the facility?
Ans: 9 times

(b) How many times did the person who visited the health club less
than anyone else in the sample visit the facility?
Ans: 0 times

(c) How many times did the person who visited the health club more
than anyone else in the sample visit the facility?
Ans: 97 times

(d) How many of the 100 members visit the health club at least 52
times a year?
Ans: 10 members

(e) How many of the 100 members visit the health club no more than
12 times a year?
Ans: 38 members

1
(f) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes was made from
the above data, and the first class was “0 but less than 10”, what would be
the frequency of the 5th class?
Ans: 9

(g) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes was made from
the above data, and the first class was “0 but less than 10”, what would be
the relative frequency of the last class?
Ans: 4% OR 0.04 OR 4/100

(h) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes was made from
the above data, and the first class was “0 but less than 10”, what would be
the cumulative percentage frequency of the next to the last class?
Ans: 96% OR 0.96 OR 96/100

(i) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes was made from
the above data, and the first class was “0 but less than 10”, what would be
the midpoint of the 3rd class?
Ans: 25 OR (20+30)/2

(j) Complete the distribution table below with equal sized classes for
the defects data, using “0 but less than 10” as the 1st class.

Number of Frequency Cumulative

Defects frequency
0 - 10 30 30
10 - 20 22 52
20 - 30 17 69
30 - 40 10 79
40 - 50 9 88
50 - 60 4 92
60 - 70 1 93
70 - 80 2 95
80 - 90 1 96
90 - 100 4 100
Total 100 xxxxxx

2
2. The ordered array below resulted from taking a sample of 25 batches
of 500 computer chips and determining how many in each batch were
defective.

No of Defectives: 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9, 12, 12, 15,

17, 20, 21, 23, 23, 25, 26, 27, 27, 28, 29, 29

(a) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes for the defects
data is constructed, using “0 but less than 5” as the 1st class, what would
be the frequency of the “20 but less than 25” class?

Ans: 4

(b) If a frequency distribution with equal sized classes for the defects
data is constructed, using “0 but less than 5” as the 1st class, what would
be the relative frequency of the “15 but less than 20” class?

Ans: 0.08 = 8%

(c) Complete the distribution table.

Number Frequency Cumulative Relative Cumulative

of frequency frequency percentage
Defects frequency
0-5 4 4 0.16 0.16
5 - 10 6 10 0.24 0.40
10 - 15 2 12 0.08 0.48
15 - 20 2 14 0.08 0.56
20 - 25 4 18 0.16 0.72
25 - 30 7 25 0.28 1.00
Total 25 xxxxxx 1.00 xxxxxxxx