Using Basic Probability and Descriptive Statistics to Solve Real-World Problems.
Using Basic Probability and Descriptive Statistics to Solve Real-World Problems
Probability and descriptive statistics are used all around us (think: life expectancy, batting averages, chances of rain, election results, sales, lottery tickets). Both give us an opportunity to analyze data and are especially useful for making decisions. Each of the following problems will assess your ability to use basic probability and descriptive statistics to solve real-world quantitative problems.
Note: This assignment does not require research, but if you choose to use information from a source, be sure to cite it. To help make sure you are properly citing your sources, please review the Strayer Writing Standards. When you have answered all parts of the assignment, save the template with your completed responses as a Word document titled: Your Name_ MAT110_Week_10_Assignment and submit it in Blackboard in Week 10.
Question 1
| Instructions
Both descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, and range) and probability (the likelihood that something will happen) can be useful in our academic, professional, and personal lives. · Determine which of the two (descriptive statistics or probability) you find to be the most useful in your life and explain why using two (2) specific examples.
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Question 2
| Instructions
Read the scenario and use your knowledge of descriptive statistics to answer the prompt. You are the marketing manager at The Best Candy Shop where the top sales item is the Dream Pop bags of flavored candies. You have been getting complaints from customers that there are not enough lemon or blueberry flavored candies, which are favorites, and too many grape and strawberry flavored candies. Your boss wants you to create an advertisement indicating, “all bags have equally likely flavors.” (That is, the probability of getting a strawberry flavored candy piece is the same as getting a blueberry flavored candy piece, etc.). As the marketing manager, you want to make sure you are advertising truthful information, so you pull a sample bag of Dream Pop candy and find the following pieces: · 16 grape flavors · 12 strawberry flavors · 6 lemon flavors · 6 blueberry flavors
· Explain how you could communicate to your boss that his advertising suggestion (all bags have equally likely flavors) would be incorrect. You must include at least two (2) probabilities from your sample bag of candy that would deem his advice inaccurate. |
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Question 3
| Instructions
Read the scenario and use your knowledge of descriptive statistics to answer parts A and B below. Customers at IT Phone Call Center have been complaining that they are waiting too long for service. The managers at the call center have taken notice and asked you to do some investigating to determine the typical service time for their customers for morning shifts compared to evening shifts. You collect the following samples (time in minutes):
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| A. Calculate the mean, median, and mode for each shift using the data above. Explain your calculations.
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| B. Explain in detail which descriptive statistic (mean, median, or mode) you would utilize to communicate the typical service time to your boss for each shift and why. In your explanation, be sure to include which shift (morning or evening) has the quicker turn-around time.
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When you have answered all parts of the assignment, save the template with your completed responses as a Word document titled: Your Name_ MAT110_Week_10_Assignment and submit it in Blackboard in Week 10.
