Question 1

Is it possible for a median to be twice the average?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because the median and average are always the same number. 
B) No, because the median is always approximately the same number as the average. 
C) No, because the median is always smaller than or equal to the average. 
D) Yes, because the average is always calculated by dividing the median by two. 
E) Yes, because the average could be pulled down by a small number of very low values. 
A) No, because the median and average are always the same number. 
B) No, because the median is always approximately the same number as the average. 
C) No, because the median is always smaller than or equal to the average. 
D) Yes, because the average is always calculated by dividing the median by two. 
E) Yes, because the average could be pulled down by a small number of very low values. E

Question 2

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? If you add up the total rainfall in the Amazon rain forest over the last 10 years and then divide by 10, you find that in a typical year, the rain forest gets about 108 inches of rain.

Accepted Answer

A) total 
B) ratio 
C) distribution 
D) average 
E) median 
A) total 
B) ratio 
C) distribution 
D) average 
E) median D

Question 3

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? At the weddings performed in this chapel in the last five years, 18% of the bridesmaids wore blue, 21% red, 7% yellow, 9% purple, 19% green, 23% pink, and 3% other colors.

Accepted Answer

A) distribution 
B) average 
C) median 
D) relative frequency 
E) absolute frequency 
A) distribution 
B) average 
C) median 
D) relative frequency 
E) absolute frequency A

Question 4

Which of the following could be a variable?

Accepted Answer

A) Andy Kaufman 
B) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
C) Taj Mahal 
D) chemical element 
E) Mount Everest 
A) Andy Kaufman 
B) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
C) Taj Mahal 
D) chemical element 
E) Mount Everest

Question 5

Which of the following statistics is a total?

Accepted Answer

A) One in 50 children is born with autism. 
B) The average life span of a cat is around 12 years. 
C) Seven modern countries were parts of the former Yugoslavia. 
D) 20% of known mammal species are bats. 
E) 15% of our revenue is put back into paying for our overhead costs. 
A) One in 50 children is born with autism. 
B) The average life span of a cat is around 12 years. 
C) Seven modern countries were parts of the former Yugoslavia. 
D) 20% of known mammal species are bats. 
E) 15% of our revenue is put back into paying for our overhead costs.

Question 6

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the average value?

Accepted Answer

A) 97 
B) 80 
C) 85 
D) 86.6 
E) 84 
A) 97 
B) 80 
C) 85 
D) 86.6 
E) 84

Question 7

Some statistics tell us, absolutely or relatively, how many members of one class (S) belong to another class (P).These statistics are called:

Accepted Answer

A) frequencies 
B) margins 
C) quantifiers 
D) categorical statistics 
E) class relations 
A) frequencies 
B) margins 
C) quantifiers 
D) categorical statistics 
E) class relations

Question 8

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There is one polling booth for every seven voters expected to vote today.

Accepted Answer

A) average 
B) total 
C) absolute frequency 
D) median 
E) ratio 
A) average 
B) total 
C) absolute frequency 
D) median 
E) ratio

Question 9

Are statistical values based on a complete survey of the entire population or on a sample of it?

Accepted Answer

A) They are always based on a complete survey because otherwise they would be meaningless. 
B) They are always based on a sample since a complete survey is never possible. 
C) They are always based on a sample since a complete survey is always a waste of time and energy. 
D) Sometimes they are based on a complete survey and sometimes on a sample. 
E) There is a general rule that when the population has 95 members or fewer, there must be a complete survey, but for more than 95, a sample must be used. 
A) They are always based on a complete survey because otherwise they would be meaningless. 
B) They are always based on a sample since a complete survey is never possible. 
C) They are always based on a sample since a complete survey is always a waste of time and energy. 
D) Sometimes they are based on a complete survey and sometimes on a sample. 
E) There is a general rule that when the population has 95 members or fewer, there must be a complete survey, but for more than 95, a sample must be used.

Question 10

Assuming that two things are causally related simply because they correlate is most similar to committing which logical fallacy?

Accepted Answer

A) post hoc 
B) division 
C) subjectivism 
D) false alternative 
E) existential fallacy 
A) post hoc 
B) division 
C) subjectivism 
D) false alternative 
E) existential fallacy

Question 11

Suppose we find that there is a correlation between people wearing T-shirts and people having flies in their homes.By itself, this would not prove that wearing T-shirts attracts insects, because there could be a confounding variable.What is the most likely candidate?

Accepted Answer

A) unemptied trash 
B) fashion trends 
C) changing seasons 
D) hygiene habits 
E) spider population 
A) unemptied trash 
B) fashion trends 
C) changing seasons 
D) hygiene habits 
E) spider population

Question 12

Which of the following statistics is a median?

Accepted Answer

A) Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean. 
B) Half of the people on Earth are younger than 26.4 years, and half are older. 
C) Earth orbits the Sun about once every 365.25 days. 
D) Eighty-eight percent of the Earth's population lives north of the equator, the rest to the south. 
E) The Earth has only one moon. 
A) Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean. 
B) Half of the people on Earth are younger than 26.4 years, and half are older. 
C) Earth orbits the Sun about once every 365.25 days. 
D) Eighty-eight percent of the Earth's population lives north of the equator, the rest to the south. 
E) The Earth has only one moon.

Question 13

Suppose that a study finds a causal relationship between two variables.The study has external validity if its findings:

Accepted Answer

A) are derived entirely from valid deductive arguments 
B) are derived entirely from valid inductive arguments 
C) apply only to the individuals that were studied 
D) apply to the general population and not merely to the individuals that were studied 
E) are generally accepted by the mathematical and scientific communities 
A) are derived entirely from valid deductive arguments 
B) are derived entirely from valid inductive arguments 
C) apply only to the individuals that were studied 
D) apply to the general population and not merely to the individuals that were studied 
E) are generally accepted by the mathematical and scientific communities

Question 14

How is an observational study different from an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) An observational study is always done in a lab, whereas an experiment is always done outside of a laboratory. 
B) An experiment is always done in a lab, whereas an observational study is always done outside of a laboratory. 
C) It isn't.They are two names for the same thing. 
D) In an observational study, variables are not controlled but rather observed as they naturally occur. 
E) In an experiment, variables are not controlled but rather observed as they naturally occur. 
A) An observational study is always done in a lab, whereas an experiment is always done outside of a laboratory. 
B) An experiment is always done in a lab, whereas an observational study is always done outside of a laboratory. 
C) It isn't.They are two names for the same thing. 
D) In an observational study, variables are not controlled but rather observed as they naturally occur. 
E) In an experiment, variables are not controlled but rather observed as they naturally occur.

Question 15

Which of the following could be a contributing factor for failing a class?

Accepted Answer

A) not taking notes in class 
B) being enrolled in the class 
C) not turning in any of the assignments or taking any of the tests 
D) renting the textbook rather than buying it 
E) triggering the attendance policy's automatic fail by missing 10 class sessions 
A) not taking notes in class 
B) being enrolled in the class 
C) not turning in any of the assignments or taking any of the tests 
D) renting the textbook rather than buying it 
E) triggering the attendance policy's automatic fail by missing 10 class sessions

Question 16

Which of the following statistics is an average?

Accepted Answer

A) Most American men are between 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 3 inches tall. 
B) Half of American men are shorter than 5 feet 9 inches, and half are taller. 
C) The collective height of American women, divided by the total number of American women, comes out to 5 feet 4 inches per woman. 
D) The most common height for an American woman is 5 feet 4 inches. 
E) Aunt Cindy is two inches taller than Uncle Dan. 
A) Most American men are between 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 3 inches tall. 
B) Half of American men are shorter than 5 feet 9 inches, and half are taller. 
C) The collective height of American women, divided by the total number of American women, comes out to 5 feet 4 inches per woman. 
D) The most common height for an American woman is 5 feet 4 inches. 
E) Aunt Cindy is two inches taller than Uncle Dan.

Question 17

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There are 88 counties in the state of Ohio.

Accepted Answer

A) average 
B) median 
C) relative frequency 
D) total 
E) ratio 
A) average 
B) median 
C) relative frequency 
D) total 
E) ratio

Question 18

Is it possible to provide a reliable ratio between two classes if we don't know how many members are in each?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes, because if we don't know how many members each class has, we can assume that they are approximately the same size. 
B) Yes, because we could extrapolate a ratio from the ratio we find in a large sample. 
C) No, because we have to know how many members there are in at least one of the classes. 
D) No, because we have no basis for calculating a ratio unless we know how many members are in both classes. 
E) No, because in that case, we couldn't provide any statistics about the two classes at all. 
A) Yes, because if we don't know how many members each class has, we can assume that they are approximately the same size. 
B) Yes, because we could extrapolate a ratio from the ratio we find in a large sample. 
C) No, because we have to know how many members there are in at least one of the classes. 
D) No, because we have no basis for calculating a ratio unless we know how many members are in both classes. 
E) No, because in that case, we couldn't provide any statistics about the two classes at all.

Question 19

In logic, statistics:

Accepted Answer

A) are considered to be the only real evidence of anything 
B) can sometimes be valuable as evidence 
C) are never considered to be real evidence of anything 
D) should never be used since that would always commit the statistician's fallacy 
E) are never used outside of political arguments 
A) are considered to be the only real evidence of anything 
B) can sometimes be valuable as evidence 
C) are never considered to be real evidence of anything 
D) should never be used since that would always commit the statistician's fallacy 
E) are never used outside of political arguments

Question 20

Some statistics identify the central value on a quantitative variable, such that half of the quantitative values would be higher than this value and half would be lower.These statistics are called:

Accepted Answer

A) averages 
B) frequencies 
C) totals 
D) ratios 
E) medians 
A) averages 
B) frequencies 
C) totals 
D) ratios 
E) medians

Is it possible for a median to be twice the average?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? If you add up the total rainfall in the Amazon rain forest over the last 10 years and then divide by 10, you find that in a typical year, the rain forest gets about 108 inches of rain.

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? At the weddings performed in this chapel in the last five years, 18% of the bridesmaids wore blue, 21% red, 7% yellow, 9% purple, 19% green, 23% pink, and 3% other colors.

Which of the following could be a variable?

Which of the following statistics is a total?

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the average value?

Some statistics tell us, absolutely or relatively, how many members of one class (S) belong to another class (P).These statistics are called:

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There is one polling booth for every seven voters expected to vote today.

Are statistical values based on a complete survey of the entire population or on a sample of it?

Assuming that two things are causally related simply because they correlate is most similar to committing which logical fallacy?

Suppose we find that there is a correlation between people wearing T-shirts and people having flies in their homes.By itself, this would not prove that wearing T-shirts attracts insects, because there could be a confounding variable.What is the most likely candidate?

Which of the following statistics is a median?

Suppose that a study finds a causal relationship between two variables.The study has external validity if its findings:

How is an observational study different from an experiment?

Which of the following could be a contributing factor for failing a class?

Which of the following statistics is an average?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There are 88 counties in the state of Ohio.

Is it possible to provide a reliable ratio between two classes if we don't know how many members are in each?

In logic, statistics:

Some statistics identify the central value on a quantitative variable, such that half of the quantitative values would be higher than this value and half would be lower.These statistics are called:

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Explanation

Probability

Filters

Exam 14: Statistical Reasoning

Is it possible for a median to be twice the average?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? If you add up the total rainfall in the Amazon rain forest over the last 10 years and then divide by 10, you find that in a typical year, the rain forest gets about 108 inches of rain.

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? At the weddings performed in this chapel in the last five years, 18% of the bridesmaids wore blue, 21% red, 7% yellow, 9% purple, 19% green, 23% pink, and 3% other colors.

Which of the following could be a variable?

Which of the following statistics is a total?

Suppose that the following is a list of student test scores: 97, 89, 85, 82, and 80.What is the average value?

Some statistics tell us, absolutely or relatively, how many members of one class (S) belong to another class (P).These statistics are called:

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There is one polling booth for every seven voters expected to vote today.

Are statistical values based on a complete survey of the entire population or on a sample of it?

Assuming that two things are causally related simply because they correlate is most similar to committing which logical fallacy?

Suppose we find that there is a correlation between people wearing T-shirts and people having flies in their homes.By itself, this would not prove that wearing T-shirts attracts insects, because there could be a confounding variable.What is the most likely candidate?

Which of the following statistics is a median?

Suppose that a study finds a causal relationship between two variables.The study has external validity if its findings:

How is an observational study different from an experiment?

Which of the following could be a contributing factor for failing a class?

Which of the following statistics is an average?

What sort of statistic does the following most clearly exemplify? There are 88 counties in the state of Ohio.

Is it possible to provide a reliable ratio between two classes if we don't know how many members are in each?

In logic, statistics:

Some statistics identify the central value on a quantitative variable, such that half of the quantitative values would be higher than this value and half would be lower.These statistics are called:

Classification

Definitions

Propositions

Argument Analysis

Fallacies

Categorical Propositions

Categorical Syllogisms

Reasoning With Syllogisms

Propositional Logic-Propositions

Propositional Logic-Arguments

Predicate Logic

Inductive Generalizations

Argument by Analogy

Explanation

Probability

Filters