Name ____________________________________ Date ____________________

Laboratory Activity No. 3

Rounding Numbers & Summation Notation

Introduction

Many students still carry the notion that if one is not good in mathematics, he will
certainly have some difficulty passing statistics. This misconception probably
stemmed from the observation that many statisticians are also mathematicians
and those who teach statistics have specialization in mathematics. While it is true
that statistics requires a good deal of arithmetic computation, one does not have
to acquire mathematical sophistication in order to pass the course.

With so many calculating devices now available, perhaps the only prerequisites left
for success in statistics are sound logic, good study habits, and a positive attitude
toward the various materials presented.

Many rules in rounding numbers have been suggested. One of the best general
solutions to the problem of rounding numbers is to keep as many numbers that
can be handled easily. In deriving the answer, it is a good idea to round off at the
end of the computation but not while still doing the computational processes.

The general principles or rules in rounding off numbers are listed below:

a. If the last digit or the digit that you are going to drop is less than 5, it is
dropped.
b. If the last digit or the digit which you are going to drop is more than 5. The
preceding digit is increased by one.
c. When the number ends in 5 preceded by an odd number, this digit is
increased by 1.
d. When the number ends in 5 preceded by an even number, this number is
retained.

Summation Notation: Σ the notation. represents the sum of n numbers x1, x2, …,
xn and is read as the sum of all xi with i ranging from 1 to n. The term following
the sign Σ indicates the quantities that are being summed, and the notations on
the bottom and the top of the Σ specify the range of the terms being added.

A series can be represented in a compact form, called summation or sigma

notation. The series 4+8+12+16+20+24 can be expressed as 6∑n=14n. The
expression is read as the sum of 4n as n goes from 1 to 6.

STA01 – Descriptive Statistics and Experimental Design (Laboratory Activity 2) 1

Name ____________________________________ Date ____________________

Objectives

At the end of the activity, the students are expected to:

1. Apply the rules of rounding numbers; and

2. Read summation notation.

Activity

I. Round off the following numbers as indicated.

a) To the nearest tenth

1) 4.32156 - __________________
2) 0.05534 - __________________
3) 1,321.35614 - __________________
4) 14,344.21134 - __________________
5) 1,010.0752 - __________________

b) To the nearest hundredth

1) 4.35761 - __________________
2) 0.54563 - __________________
3) 735.1970 - __________________
4) 1,000.00571 - __________________
5) 321.14355 - __________________

c) To the nearest thousandth

1) 23.55555 - __________________
2) 34.12156 - __________________
3) 0.98765 - __________________
4) 43,211.11111 - __________________
5) 6,987.34651 - __________________

II. Evaluate the following notation if x1 = 4, x2 = 2, x3 = 10, x4 = 5, x5 = 7, y1

= 2, y2 = 3, y3 = 5, y4 = 5, and y5 = 8.

a) 3 ∑5𝑖=1(𝑥𝑖 )

b) ∑4𝑖=1(𝑋𝑖 𝑌𝑖 )

c) ∑5𝑖=1(𝑋𝑖 𝑌𝑖 )2

STA01 – Descriptive Statistics and Experimental Design (Laboratory Activity 2) 2

Name ____________________________________ Date ____________________

d) ∑5𝑖=1(𝑋𝑖 + 𝑌𝑖 )

e) ∑5𝑖=2(𝑋𝑖 − 2)

f) 3 ∑5𝑖=1(𝑌𝑖 )

g) 3 ∑5𝑖=1(𝑋𝑖 − 2)

h) 2 ∑4𝑖=1 𝑋𝑖 + ∑3𝑖=1 𝑋𝑖2

i) ∑3𝑖=1[𝑋𝑖 + 𝑌𝑖 ]2

j) ∑5𝑖=3(𝑋𝑖2 + 𝑌𝑖2 )

Assessment

1. What is the purpose of rounding numbers?

2. What is the purpose of sigma notation?

STA01 – Descriptive Statistics and Experimental Design (Laboratory Activity 2) 3

Name ____________________________________ Date ____________________

3. Rate this activity based on the criterion below, more stars mean more useful.

a. Knowledge?

b. Interest?

Assignment

Count the number of observations or measurements falling with each class interval
and enter the results in the frequency column.

A sample of 40 students with the corresponding scores in Mathematics.

43 58 21 24 31 49 40 51 55 28
50 33 62 30 25 39 59 29 36 42
38 46 42 16 50 41 37 35 40 52
47 35 57 55 36 45 32 45 42 36

STA01 – Descriptive Statistics and Experimental Design (Laboratory Activity 2) 4