/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 14 The tuition costs (in dollars) f... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

The tuition costs (in dollars) for a sample of four-year state colleges in California and Texas are shown below. Compare the means and the standard deviations of the data and compare the state tuition costs of the two states in a sentence or two. CA: \(7040,6423,6313,6802,7048,7460\) TX: \(7155,7504,7328,8230,7344,5760\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The mean cost of tuition is higher in Texas (\$7220.2) compared to California (\$6847.7). The standard deviation, a measure of variability, is also higher in Texas (817.52) which means their costs vary more. This suggests that the cost of state colleges in Texas can be more unpredictable compared to California.

Step by step solution

01

Calculate the Mean

To calculate the mean (average), add up all the values and then divide by the number of values. For CA, the mean is \(\frac{7040 + 6423 + 6313 + 6802 + 7048 + 7460}{6} = 6847.7\). For TX, the mean is \(\frac{7155 + 7504 + 7328 + 8230 + 7344 + 5760}{6} = 7220.2\)
02

Calculate the Standard Deviation

To find the standard deviation, first calculate the variance by subtracting the mean from each value, squaring the results, summing them, and dividing by the number of values. The standard deviation is the square root of the variance. The variance for CA is \(\frac{(7040-6847.7)^2 + (6423-6847.7)^2 + (6313-6847.7)^2 + (6802-6847.7)^2 + (7048-6847.7)^2 + (7460-6847.7)^2}{6} = 267771.5\) and thus the standard deviation is \(\sqrt{267771.5} \approx 517.47\). Using same process, TX's standard deviation is calculated to be \(\sqrt{668150.2}\) approximately equals to 817.52.
03

Compare the Two States' Tuition Costs

Compare the mean and standard deviation of both states. The comparison should be articulated in clear sentences.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Mean calculation
The mean is a measure of the central tendency of a data set. It tells you what the average value is for a set of numbers. Calculating the mean is straightforward. Here's how you can do it:
  • Add up all the values in your data set.
  • Divide by the number of values you added.
For example, when looking at the tuition costs for colleges in California, you would add: 7040, 6423, 6313, 6802, 7048, and 7460. Then, divide the total by 6, which gives you a mean of 6847.7 dollars. In Texas, adding up the numbers 7155, 7504, 7328, 8230, 7344, and 5760 and dividing by 6 gives you a mean of 7220.2 dollars.

Keep in mind, the mean provides a basic overview of your data, but it doesn't explain how much your data points vary.
Standard deviation
Standard deviation helps determine the spread of a data set. It's essentially a number that tells you how much, on average, each number in a set differs from the mean. A smaller standard deviation indicates data points tend to be close to the mean, while a larger one indicates data points are spread out over a larger range of values.

To calculate standard deviation, first find the variance:
  • Subtract the mean from each data point and square the result.
  • Add all the squared results together.
  • Divide by the number of data points to find the variance.
Finally, take the square root of the variance to get the standard deviation.

Using this method, California's variance is 267771.5 and its standard deviation is approximately 517.47. For Texas, the standard deviation is about 817.52; thus, indicating a larger dispersion.
Variance
Variance is a key concept in statistics that measures the variability of a data set. It tells you how spread out the numbers in your data set are. Think of it as a stepping stone to finding the standard deviation. Here’s how it works:
  • Calculate the mean of your data set.
  • Subtract the mean from each data point to find the deviation of each value.
  • Square each deviation to eliminate negative values.
  • Average these squared deviations to find the variance.
Variance for California's tuition is calculated as 267771.5, while for Texas, it stands at 668150.2. These figures show that Texas has a greater variability in tuition costs compared to California.

Understanding variance is pivotal because it serves as the foundation for calculating standard deviation, which is more intuitive in explaining data spread.
Data comparison
When comparing data sets, like the tuition costs of colleges in California and Texas, you're looking at both the mean and standard deviation for insights. Here's what's important:
  • Look at the mean to see which state has higher or lower average tuition.
  • Consider the standard deviation to understand the variability within the tuition costs.
For California, the mean tuition is 6847.7 with a standard deviation of 517.47, suggesting relatively consistent tuition fees across colleges. Contrastingly, Texas shows a higher mean of 7220.2 and a larger standard deviation of 817.52, indicating greater variability.

With statistics, you're not just looking at numbers - you're unlocking the story they tell. Comparing means and standard deviations helps provide a comprehensive picture of what's happening in the data.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

In 2017 a pollution index was calculated for a sample of cities in the eastern states using data on air and water pollution. Assume the distribution of pollution indices is unimodal and symmetric. The mean of the distribution was \(35.9\) points with a standard deviation of \(11.6\) points. (Source: numbeo. com) see Guidance page \(142 .\) a. What percentage of eastern cities would you expect to have a pollution index between \(12.7\) and \(59.1\) points? b. What percentage of castern cities would you expect to have a pollution index between \(24.3\) and \(47.5\) points? c. The pollution index for New York, in 2017 was \(58.7\) points. Based on this distribution, was this unusually high? Explain.

The dotplot shows heights of college women; the mean is 64 inches \((5\) feet 4 inches), and the standard deviation is 3 inches. a. What is the \(z\) -score for a height of 58 inches ( 4 feet 10 inches)? b. What is the height of a woman with a z-score of \(1 ?\)

In 2017 a pollution index was calculated for a sample of cities in the western states using data on air and water pollution. Assume the distribution of pollution indices is unimodal and symmetric. The mean of the distribution was \(43.0\) points with a standard deviation of \(11.3\) points. a. What percentage of western cities would you expect to have a pollution index between \(31.7\) and \(54.3\) points? b. What percentage of western cities would you expect to have a pollution index between \(20.4\) and \(65.6\) ? c. The pollution index for San Jose in 2017 was \(51.9\) points. Based on this distribution, was this unusually high? Explain.

Wechsler IQ tests have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of \(15 .\) Which is more unusual: an IQ above 110 or an IQ below 80 ?

Distributions of gestation periods (lengths of pregnancy) for humans are roughly bell-shaped. The mean gestation period for humans is 272 days, and the standard deviation is 9 days for women who go into spontaneous labor. Which is more unusual, a baby being born 9 days early or a baby being born 9 days late? Explain.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Math Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.