STAT 200 Week 1 Homework Problems – Jason Galliano

1.1.4 To estimate the percentage of households in Connecticut which use fuel oil as a heating source, a
researcher collects information from 1000 Connecticut households about what fuel is their heating
source. State the individual, variable, population, sample, parameter, and statistic.

Individual – One single Household in CT.

Variable – The percentage of households that use fuel oil as a heating source in CT.

Population – The number of households that use fuel oil as a heating source in CT.

Sample – The 1,000 CT households where the information is gathered.

Parameter – The percentage of households that use fuel oil as a heating source drawn from the entire
population of CT.

Statistic – The percentage of households that use fuel oil as a heating source drawn from the sample
(1,000 households in CT).

1.1.8 The World Health Organization wishes to estimate the mean density of people per square
kilometer, they collect data on 56 countries. State the individual, variable, population, sample,
parameter, and statistic.

Individual – One single country.

Variable – The mean density of people per square kilometer.

Population – The countries of the world.

Sample – The 56 countries where the information is gathered.

Parameter – The mean density of people per square kilometer drawn from all countries of the world.

Statistic – The mean density of people per square kilometer drawn from the sample (56 countries).

1.2.4 You wish to determine the GPA of students at your school. Describe what process you
would go through to collect a sample if you use a stratified sample.

First, I would gather a list of students from the school. Once I have a list, I will then divide the
students into individual strata, or groups, such as grade (ex. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and
Senior). With the strata created, now I will randomly choose students from each strata and record
their GPA.

1.3.4 To evaluate whether a new fertilizer improves plant growth more than the old fertilizer, the
fertilizer developer gives some plants the new fertilizer and others the old fertilizer. Is this an
observation or an experiment? Why?
By using two different fertilizers and comparing the two, they are conducting an experiment. The
observation is simply the examination of the growth of the plants.

1.3.10 A mathematics instructor wants to see if a computer homework system improves the
scores of the students in the class. The instructor teaches two different sections of the same
course. One section utilizes the computer homework system and the other section completes
homework with paper and pencil. Are the two samples matched pairs or not? Why or why not?

Yes, because you have two correlated variables and are assessing the differences between the
two.

1.3.16 To determine if a new medication reduces headache pain, some patients are given the new
medication and others are given a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the patients know who is
taking the real medication and who is taking the placebo. Is this a blind experiment, double
blind experiment, or neither? Why?

This is a double-blind experiment given the fact that neither the patients nor the researchers
know who is taking the new medication and who is taking the placebo.

1.4.2 Suppose a car dealership offers a low interest rate and a longer payoff period to customers
or a high interest rate and a shorter payoff period to customers, and most customers choose the
low interest rate and longer payoff period, does that mean that most customers want a lower
interest rate? Explain.

Not necessarily, because the interest rate and payoff period are both variables. You cannot
determine whether customers want the lower interest rate from this scenario.

1.4.8 Suppose a telephone poll is conducted by contacting U.S. citizens via landlines about their
view of gay marriage. Suppose over 50% of those called do not support gay marriage. Does that
mean that you can say over 50% of all people in the U.S. do not support gay marriage? Explain

No, because the statistic is drawn from the sample, not the population.

1.4.14 An employee survey says, “Employees at this institution are very satisfied with working
here. Please rate your satisfaction with the institution.” Discuss how this question could create
bias.

This question could create biased answers because it is already making the statement that
employees are very satisfied with working there.
2.1.4 In Connecticut households use gas, fuel oil, or electricity as a heating source. Table #2.1.7
shows the percentage of households that use one of these as their principle heating sources
("Electricity usage," 2013), ("Fuel oil usage," 2013), ("Gas usage," 2013). Create a bar chart and
pie chart of this data. State any findings you see from the graphs.

Table #2.1.7: Data of Household Heating Sources

Heating Source Percentage

Electricity 15.3%
Fuel Oil 46.3%
Gas 35.6%
Other 2.8%

Data of Household Heating Sources

Electricity 15.30%
Heating Source

Gas 35.60%

Fuel Oil 46.30%

Other
2.80%

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00% 45.00% 50.00%
Percentage of Usage

Data of Household Heating Sources

2.80%

15.30%

35.60%

46.30%

Electricity Fuel Oil Gas Other