Comparing Histograms and Standard Deviations

The National Longitudinal Survey records the heights of a representative sample of youths aged 14 to 20. The histograms show data for the heights of males and females. If you were comparing the heights of males and females, which measures of center and spread would you use?

• Since both distributions are symmetric, the mean and standard deviation should be used as the measures of center and spread.

• Since one of these distributions is not symmetric, the median and IQR should be used as the measures of center and spread.

Home prices in San Luis Obispo County for a recent month are shown in the histogram.

What measures of center and spread should be used to describe the distribution?

• Since the distribution is skewed, the mean and standard deviation should be used as the measures of center and spread.

• Since the distribution is skewed, the mean and IQR should be used as the measures of center and spread.

• Since the distribution is skewed, the median and standard deviation should be used as the measures of center and spread.

• Since the distribution is skewed, the median and IQR should be used as the measures of center and spread.

A marketing firm obtained random samples of 20 people in five regions of the country to investigate the level of interest in a new product. People in the sample were asked to rate their level of interest on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least amount of interest and 10 being the greatest. The histograms show the results for each region. The graph for which region displays data for level of interest with the least standard deviation?

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For a recent season in college football, the total number of rushing yards for that season is recorded for each running back. The mean number of rushing yards for the running backs that season is 790 yards. One running back had 1,637 rushing yards for the season, which is 2.42 standard deviations above the mean number of rushing yards. What is the standard deviation of the number of rushing yards for the running backs that season?

• 250 yards

• 300 yards

• 350 yards

• 400 yards

• 450 yards

Which distribution has the smallest standard deviation?

• red

• yellow

• green

• blue

• they are all the same

Which normal distribution has the lowest standard deviation?

• Green

• Orange

• Blue

In the formula for standard deviation, what does the symbol Σ represent?

• Subtraction

• Multiplication

• Sum

• Division

Based on the histogram, do you think more students passed or failed the Algebra 1 test?

• More students passed

• More students failed

• Equal number of students passed and failed

• Cannot be determined

What is the standard deviation for the data given:

• 6.89

• 10.1

• 7.26

• 9

What is the standard deviation for the data given:

{12, 13, 29, 18, 61, 35, 21}

• 293.67

• 15.87

• 17.14

• 41.98