Question

chapter 2 homework assignment
score: 6/76 answered: 2/12
question 1
1.43 parameters and statistics: identify which value represents the sample mean and which value represents the claimed population mean.
a) american households spent an average of about $55 in 2007 on halloween merchandise such as costumes, decorations and candy. to see if this number had changed, researchers conducted a new survey in 2008 before industry numbers were reported. the survey included 1600 households and found that average halloween spending was $62 per household.
the sample mean is

dollars, while the claimed population mean is

dollars.
b) the average gpa of students in 2001 at a private university was 3.21. a survey on a sample of 350 students from this university yielded an average gpa of 3.64 in spring semester of 2012.
the sample mean is

and the claimed population mean is

Explanation:

Step1: Define sample and population mean

The sample mean is the average of a sample data - set. The claimed population mean is an assumed or previously known average for the entire population.

Step2: Analyze part a

In part a, the survey of 1600 households found an average spending of $62 per household. This is the sample mean. The $55 average spending in 2007 is the claimed population mean.

Step3: Analyze part b

In part b, the average GPA of 350 students in Spring 2012 is 3.64, so this is the sample mean. The average GPA of students in 2001 which is 3.21 is the claimed population mean.

Answer:

a) The sample mean is 62 dollars, while the claimed population mean is 55 dollars.
b) The sample mean is 3.64, and the claimed population mean is 3.21.