Statistics: Principles and Methods, 7th Edition

CHAPTER 2–ONLINE

Exercises

2.1A Consider the characteristics

(a) Whether or not a customer orders a red meat entree in the restaurant.

(b) The number of songs a student downloaded last weekend.

In each case, determine if the resulting data are categorical, discrete or continuous.

2.2A Consider the characteristics

(a) The measured rainfall, during one thunderstorm, at the official site.

(b) The number of credits a student is taking this semester.

In each case, determine if the resulting data are categorical, discrete or continuous.

Example 24A

Identifying the Locations Having the Most Strong Tornadoes

Figure 19 in the text presents the yearly number of strong (EF3–EF5) tornadoes, averaged over a ten year period. Determine an approximate location of a tornado alley consisting of states that have the highest average numbers?

SOLUTION

The strong tornadoes are not uniform across the country but are concentrated in the center of the country and include Texas (2.8), Oklahoma (2.7), Arkansas (2.9), Kansas (3.1), Missouri (2.2), Tennessee (2.7), and Mississippi (2.0). Together, these seven states average 18.4 or proportion 18.4/37.5 = .49 of all strong tornadoes.

We do know from other statistics that Texas gets the most tornadoes and Florida is second. Experts conclude that Florida itself is a second tornado alley.

Exercises

2.71A Refer to Figure 19.

(a) Which state has the highest yearly average of strong tornadoes?

(b) Would you expect a different result if you divide by the area ...