Samples and Populations (Biased/Unbiased)

Identify the population and the sample.

​ All students in a school​ (a)  

30 students in the school.​ (b)  

• Population
• Sample

Identify the population and the sample.

75 strawberries in a field​ (a)  

All the strawberries in the field.​ (b)  

• Population
• Sample

Determine whether the sample is biased or unbiased.

You want to estimate the number of students in your school who are on athletic teams outside of school. You survey members of your school’s athletic teams.

• Biased

• Unbiased

Determine whether the sample is biased or unbiased.

You want to estimate the number of students in your school who think there should be healthier school lunches available. You ask every 5th person waiting in the cafeteria lunch line.

• Biased

• Unbiased

Which sample is better for making an estimate?

Estimate the number of residents in St. Lucie County who own a home.

• A random sample of 100 residents in the county.

• A random sample of 100 residents in the city of Fort Pierce.

Which sample is better for making an estimate?

Estimate the number of people at a beach who are wearing sunscreen.

• A random sample of 50 people at the beach.

• A random sample of 5 people at the beach.

You want to know how the residents of your town feel about a new skatepark. You survey 100 students in your school. You conclude that 75% of the residents support the new skatepark. Is your conclusion valid?

• Yes, because the sample size is large enough.

• No, because the sample is not representative of the entire town.

• Yes, because students are a good representation of the town's residents.

• No, because 75% is not a significant majority.

A survey asked 60 randomly chosen students at a school if they eat school lunch. Forty said yes. There were 560 school lunches eaten at the school today. Estimate the number of students who said yes.

• 373
• 250
• 480
• 600

You survey 25 randomly chosen college students from a local college about their dietary preference. There are 4,000 students at the college. Estimate the number of students at the college who prefer a vegetarian diet.

• 400

• 800

• 1,200

• 640

You want to determine how many students at your school will attend the school’s Spring Dance. Describe how you can conduct the survey so that the sample is biased toward attending the dance.

• Poll students as they walk in the building before school.

• Survey students in the library.

• Ask students during lunch break.

• Survey students in the science club.