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Ch. 2 - Exploring Data with Tables and Graphs
Triola - Elementary Statistics 14th Edition
Triola14th EditionElementary StatisticsISBN: 9780137366446Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 2, Problem 2.1.5

In Exercises 5–8, identify the class width, class midpoints, and class boundaries for the given frequency distribution. Also identify the number of individuals included in the summary. The frequency distributions are based on real data from Appendix B.
Table displaying age ranges of best actresses when they won Oscars, along with corresponding frequency counts.

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Step 1: Identify the class width. The class width is calculated by subtracting the lower boundary of one class from the lower boundary of the next class. For example, subtract 20 (lower boundary of the first class) from 30 (lower boundary of the second class).
Step 2: Calculate the class midpoints. The class midpoint is the average of the lower and upper boundaries of each class. For example, for the first class (20–29), calculate (20 + 29) / 2.
Step 3: Determine the class boundaries. The class boundaries are the values that separate one class from another without gaps. For example, for the first class (20–29), the lower boundary is 19.5 and the upper boundary is 29.5.
Step 4: Sum the frequencies to find the total number of individuals included in the summary. Add all the frequencies together: 31 + 34 + 15 + 3 + 6 + 1 + 1.
Step 5: Verify the calculations and ensure all values (class width, midpoints, boundaries, and total frequency) are consistent with the data provided in the frequency distribution table.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Class Width

Class width refers to the range of values that each class interval covers in a frequency distribution. It is calculated by subtracting the lower boundary of a class from its upper boundary. For example, in the age distribution provided, the class width for the age range 20-29 is 10 years (29 - 20 = 9, plus one for inclusive counting).
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Class Midpoint

The class midpoint is the value that lies in the middle of a class interval and is calculated by averaging the upper and lower boundaries of that class. For instance, the midpoint for the age range 20-29 is (20 + 29) / 2 = 24.5. This value is often used in statistical calculations, such as finding the mean of grouped data.
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Class Boundaries

Class boundaries are the values that separate one class from another in a frequency distribution. They are determined by taking the upper limit of one class and the lower limit of the next class, ensuring there are no gaps between classes. For example, the class boundaries for the age range 20-29 would be 19.5 (lower) and 29.5 (upper), allowing for a continuous range of data.
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Textbook Question

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Textbook Question

In Exercises 5 and 6, construct the dotplot.


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Textbook Question

In Exercises 15 and 16, construct the frequency polygons.

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Textbook Question

In Exercises 9–12, using a loose interpretation of the criteria for determining whether a frequency distribution is approximately a normal distribution, determine whether the given frequency distribution is approximately a normal distribution. Give a brief explanation.

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Textbook Question

Causation A study has shown that there is a correlation between body weight and blood pressure. Higher body weights are associated with higher blood pressure levels. Can we conclude that gaining weight is a cause of increased blood pressure?

Textbook Question

In Exercises 5–8, answer the questions by referring to the following Minitab-generated histogram, which depicts the weights (grams) of all quarters listed in Data Set 40 “Coin Weights” in Appendix B. (Grams are actually units of mass and the values shown on the horizontal scale are rounded.)


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