Skip to content Skip to navigation Skip to collection information

Connexions

You are here: Home » Content » Collaborative Statistics » Lap 2: Normal Distribution (Pinkie Length)

Navigation

Table of Contents

Recently Viewed

This feature requires Javascript to be enabled.

Tags

(What is a tag?)

These tags come from the endorsement, affiliation, and other lenses that include this content.
 

Lap 2: Normal Distribution (Pinkie Length)

Module by: Susan Dean, Barbara Illowsky, Ph.D.. E-mail the authors

Class Time:

Names:

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • The student will compare empirical data and a theoretical distribution to determine if data from the experiment follow a continuous distribution.

Collect the Data

Measure the length of your pinkie finger (in cm.)

  1. 1. Randomly survey 30 adults. Round to the nearest 0.5 cm.
    Table 1
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
    _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
  2. 2. Construct a histogram. Make 5-6 intervals. Sketch the graph using a ruler and pencil. Scale the axes. Blank graph with frequency on the vertical axis and length of finger on the horizontal axis.
  3. 3. Calculate the Following
    • a. x¯ = x =
    • b. s = s=
  4. 4. Draw a smooth curve through the top of the bars of the histogram. Use 1-2 complete sentences to describe the general shape of the curve. (Keep it simple. Does the graph go straight across, does it have a V-shape, does it have a hump in the middle or at either end, etc.?)

Analyze the Distribution

Using your sample mean, sample standard deviation, and histogram to help, what was the approximate theoretical distribution of the data from the section titled "Collect the Data"?

  • X X ~
  • How does the histogram help you arrive at the approximate distribution?

Describe the Data

Using the data in the section titled "Collect the Data" complete the following statements. (Hint: order the data)

Remember:

( IQR = Q 3 - Q 1 ) (IQR=Q3-Q1)
  • IQR =
  • 15th percentile is:
  • 85th percentile is:
  • Median is:
  • What is the empirical probability that a randomly chosen pinkie length is more than 6.5 cm?
  • Explain the meaning the 85th percentile of this data.

Theoretical Distribution

Using the Theoretical Distribution in the section titled "Analyze the Distribution"

  • IQR =
  • 15th percentile is:
  • 85th percentile is:
  • Median is:
  • What is the theoretical probability that a randomly chosen pinkie length is more than 6.5 cm?
  • Explain the meaning of the 85th percentile of this data.

Discussion Questions

  • Do the data from the section entitled "Collect the Data" give a close approximation to the theoretical distribution in "Analyze the Distribution." In complete sentences and comparing the results in the sections titled "Describe the Data" and "Theoretical Distribution", explain why or why not.

Collection Navigation

Content actions

Download module as:

PDF | More downloads ...

Add:

Collection to:

My Favorites (?)

'My Favorites' is a special kind of lens which you can use to bookmark modules and collections. 'My Favorites' can only be seen by you, and collections saved in 'My Favorites' can remember the last module you were on. You need an account to use 'My Favorites'.

| A lens I own (?)

Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of the content in the repository. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see content through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual member, a community, or a respected organization.

What are tags? tag icon

Tags are descriptors added by lens makers to help label content, attaching a vocabulary that is meaningful in the context of the lens.

| External bookmarks

Module to:

My Favorites (?)

'My Favorites' is a special kind of lens which you can use to bookmark modules and collections. 'My Favorites' can only be seen by you, and collections saved in 'My Favorites' can remember the last module you were on. You need an account to use 'My Favorites'.

| A lens I own (?)

Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of the content in the repository. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see content through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual member, a community, or a respected organization.

What are tags? tag icon

Tags are descriptors added by lens makers to help label content, attaching a vocabulary that is meaningful in the context of the lens.

| External bookmarks