University of North Carolina, Greensboro

ECO 25

HI6007 Tutorial Activity Week 1

1)The Tennessean, an online newspaper located in Nashville, Tennessee, conducts a daily poll to obtain reader opinions on a variety of current issues. In a recent poll, 762 readers responded to the following question: “If a constitutional amendment to ban a state income tax is placed on the ballot in Tennessee, would you want it to pass?” Possible responses were yes, No, or Not Sure (The Tennessean website, February 15, 2013).

1. 1. What was the sample size for this poll?

1. 2. Are the data categorical or quantitative?

1. 3. Would it make more sense to use averages or percentages as a summary of the data for this question?

1. 4. Of the respondents, 67% said yes, they would want it to pass. How many individuals provided this response?

2. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics Omnibus Household Survey is conducted annu- ally and serves as an information source for the U.S. Department of Transportation. In one part of the survey the person being interviewed was asked to respond to the follow- ing statement: “Drivers of motor vehicles should be allowed to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving.” Possible responses were strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, and strongly disagree. Forty-four respondents said that they strongly agree with this statement, 130 said that they somewhat agree, 165 said they somewhat disagree, and 741 said they strongly disagree with this statement (Bureau of Transportation website, August 2010).

1. 1. Do the responses for this statement provide categorical or quantitative data?
   2. Would it make more sense to use averages or percentages as a summary of the responses for this statement?
   3. What percentage of respondents strongly agree with allowing drivers of motor vehicles to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving?

1. 4. Do the results indicate general support for or against allowing drivers of motor vehicles to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving?

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

In the following multiple-choice questions, circle the correct answer.

1. A numerical description of the outcome of an experiment is called a
   1. descriptive statistic
   2. probability function
   3. variance
   4. random variable
2. A random variable that can assume only a finite number of values is referred to as a(n)
   1. infinite sequence
   2. finite sequence
   3. discrete random variable
   4. discrete probability function
3. A continuous random variable may assume
   1. any value in an interval or collection of intervals
   2. only integer values in an interval or collection of intervals
   3. only fractional values in an interval or collection of intervals
   4. only the positive integer values in an interval
4. An experiment consists of making 80 telephone calls in order to sell a particular insurance policy. The random variable in this experiment is the number of sales made.

This random variable is a

1. 1. discrete random variable
   2. continuous random variable
   3. complex random variable
   4. None of the answers is correct.

5. The number of customers that enter a store during one day is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable

1. 3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the number of the customers
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the gender of the customers

6. An experiment consists of measuring the speed of automobiles on a highway by the use of radar equipment. The random variable in this experiment is speed, measured in miles per hour. This random variable is a
   1. discrete random variable
   2. continuous random variable
   3. complex random variable
   4. None of the answers is correct.

7. The weight of an object, measured in grams, is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable
   3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the weight of the object
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable depending on the units of measurement

8. The weight of an object, measured to the nearest gram, is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable
   3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the weight of the object
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable depending on the units of measurement

6. A description of how the probabilities are distributed over the values the random variable can assume is called a

1. 1. probability distribution
   2. probability function
   3. random variable
   4. expected value

10. Which of the following is(are) required condition(s) for a discrete probability function?

a.         ?f(x) = 0

2. f(x) ? 1 for all values of x
3. f(x) < 0
4. None of the answers is correct.

11. Which of the following is not a required condition for a discrete probability function?
    1. f(x) ? 0 for all values of x

b.         ?f(x) = 1

c.         ?f(x) = 0

d.         All of the answers are correct.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

In the following multiple-choice questions, circle the correct answer.

1. A numerical description of the outcome of an experiment is called a
   1. descriptive statistic
   2. probability function
   3. variance
   4. random variable
2. A random variable that can assume only a finite number of values is referred to as a(n)
   1. infinite sequence
   2. finite sequence
   3. discrete random variable

2. 4. discrete probability function
3. A continuous random variable may assume
   1. any value in an interval or collection of intervals
   2. only integer values in an interval or collection of intervals
   3. only fractional values in an interval or collection of intervals
   4. only the positive integer values in an interval

5. An experiment consists of making 80 telephone calls in order to sell a particular insurance policy. The random variable in this experiment is the number of sales made.

This random variable is a

4. 1. discrete random variable
   2. continuous random variable
5. complex random variable
6. None of the answers is correct.

5. The number of customers that enter a store during one day is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable
   3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the number of the customers
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the gender of the customers

7. An experiment consists of measuring the speed of automobiles on a highway by the use of radar equipment. The random variable in this experiment is speed, measured in miles per hour. This random variable is a
   1. discrete random variable
   2. continuous random variable
   3. complex random variable
   4. None of the answers is correct.

7. The weight of an object, measured in grams, is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable
   3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the weight of the object
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable depending on the units of measurement

8. The weight of an object, measured to the nearest gram, is an example of
   1. a continuous random variable
   2. a discrete random variable
   3. either a continuous or a discrete random variable, depending on the weight of the object
   4. either a continuous or a discrete random variable depending on the units of measurement

7. A description of how the probabilities are distributed over the values the random variable can assume is called a
   1. probability distribution
   2. probability function
   3. random variable
   4. expected value

10. Which of the following is(are) required condition(s) for a discrete probability function?

a.         ?f(x) = 0

2. f(x) ? 1 for all values of x
3. f(x) < 0
4. None of the answers is correct.

11. Which of the following is not a required condition for a discrete probability function?