Chapter 1: Looking at Data — Distributions
1. A study is conducted on students taking a statistics class. Several variables are recorded in
the survey. Identify each variable as categorical or quantitative.
A) Type of car the student owns.
B) Number of credit hours taken during that semester.
C) The time the student waited in line at the bookstore to pay for his/her textbooks.
D) Home state of the student.
Answer: A) categorical, B) quantitative, C) quantitative, D) categorical
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
2. Researchers are conducting a state-wide survey for the U.S. Postal Service. The survey
records many different variables of interest. Which of the following variables is
categorical?
A) County of residence.
B) Number of people, both adults and children, living in the household.
C) Total household income, before taxes, in 2010.
D) Age of respondent.
Answer: A
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
,3. A particularly common question in the study of wildlife behavior involves observing
contests between “residents” of a particular area and “intruders.” In each contest, the
“residents” either win or lose the encounter (assuming there are no ties). Observers might
record several variables, some of which are listed below. Which of these variables is
categorical?
A) The duration of the contest (in seconds).
B) The number of animals involved in the contest.
C) Whether the “residents” win or lose.
D) The total number of contests won by the “residents.”
Answer: C
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
4. A description of different houses on the market includes the following three variables.
Which of these variables is quantitative?
A) The square footage of the house.
B) The monthly gas bill.
C) The monthly electric bill.
D) All of the above.
Answer: D
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
,5. Jason is buying a new computer. He is comparing various models using many different
variables. These variables play an important role in making the decision about which
computer he will buy. Identify each of the following variables as categorical or
quantitative.
A) Does the computer come with a CD/DVD writer?
B) What is the hard drive size of the computer?
C) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop model?
D) How much does the computer cost?
Answer: A) categorical, B) quantitative, C) categorical, D) quantitative
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
, 6. A sample of employees of a large pharmaceutical company has been obtained. The length
of time (in months) they have worked for the company was recorded for each employee. A
stemplot of these data is shown below. In the stemplot 6|2 represents
62 months.
6 2 2 3 3 4 5 7 8 9
7 0 0 0 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9
8 0 0 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 5 7 9 9 9
9 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 5 8
What would be a better way to represent this data set?
A) Display the data in a time plot.
B) Display the data in a boxplot.
C) Split the stems.
D) Use a histogram with class width equal to 10.
Answer: C
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
1. A study is conducted on students taking a statistics class. Several variables are recorded in
the survey. Identify each variable as categorical or quantitative.
A) Type of car the student owns.
B) Number of credit hours taken during that semester.
C) The time the student waited in line at the bookstore to pay for his/her textbooks.
D) Home state of the student.
Answer: A) categorical, B) quantitative, C) quantitative, D) categorical
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
2. Researchers are conducting a state-wide survey for the U.S. Postal Service. The survey
records many different variables of interest. Which of the following variables is
categorical?
A) County of residence.
B) Number of people, both adults and children, living in the household.
C) Total household income, before taxes, in 2010.
D) Age of respondent.
Answer: A
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
,3. A particularly common question in the study of wildlife behavior involves observing
contests between “residents” of a particular area and “intruders.” In each contest, the
“residents” either win or lose the encounter (assuming there are no ties). Observers might
record several variables, some of which are listed below. Which of these variables is
categorical?
A) The duration of the contest (in seconds).
B) The number of animals involved in the contest.
C) Whether the “residents” win or lose.
D) The total number of contests won by the “residents.”
Answer: C
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
4. A description of different houses on the market includes the following three variables.
Which of these variables is quantitative?
A) The square footage of the house.
B) The monthly gas bill.
C) The monthly electric bill.
D) All of the above.
Answer: D
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
,5. Jason is buying a new computer. He is comparing various models using many different
variables. These variables play an important role in making the decision about which
computer he will buy. Identify each of the following variables as categorical or
quantitative.
A) Does the computer come with a CD/DVD writer?
B) What is the hard drive size of the computer?
C) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop model?
D) How much does the computer cost?
Answer: A) categorical, B) quantitative, C) categorical, D) quantitative
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
, 6. A sample of employees of a large pharmaceutical company has been obtained. The length
of time (in months) they have worked for the company was recorded for each employee. A
stemplot of these data is shown below. In the stemplot 6|2 represents
62 months.
6 2 2 3 3 4 5 7 8 9
7 0 0 0 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9
8 0 0 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 5 7 9 9 9
9 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 5 8
What would be a better way to represent this data set?
A) Display the data in a time plot.
B) Display the data in a boxplot.
C) Split the stems.
D) Use a histogram with class width equal to 10.
Answer: C
Topic: 1.1 Displaying Distributions with Graphs
