Statistics Midterm Exam
A free Statistics and Data Analysis lesson from the “Collecting Data” unit, with a worked example and practice problems including step-by-step solutions.
The midterm exam reviews the first half of the course: data displays and summaries, two-variable data, study design, and simulation.
What you'll learn
- Review the major skills from this part of the course
- Choose an appropriate statistical method
- Explain results in context
Worked example
Problem. A histogram is used mainly to show:
- Worked Example: First identify exactly what the question is asking: A histogram is used mainly to show:
- Compare each answer choice with the calculation or rule, and eliminate choices that do not satisfy the condition.
- Histograms group quantitative values into intervals.
- That reveals distribution shape.
Answer: the shape of quantitative data
Practice problems
1. Review case A: A histogram is used mainly to show:
Choices: the cause of an association · the treatment in an experiment · the shape of quantitative data · the exact value of a population parameter
Show solution
- Midterm Review: First identify exactly what the question is asking: A histogram is used mainly to show:
- Compare each answer choice with the calculation or rule, and eliminate choices that do not satisfy the condition.
- Histograms group quantitative values into intervals.
- That reveals distribution shape.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it satisfies the original prompt and that the other choices fail the same test.
Answer: the shape of quantitative data
2. Review case B: In Frequency Tables and Bar Charts, what should you do before choosing a graph?
Choices: Ignore units · Identify the variable type and question · Compute a p-value immediately · Use a line of best fit for every data set
Show solution
- Midterm Review: First identify exactly what the question is asking: In Frequency Tables and Bar Charts, what should you do before choosing a graph?
- Compare each answer choice with the calculation or rule, and eliminate choices that do not satisfy the condition.
- The graph should match the variable type and question.
- Categorical and quantitative data need different displays.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it satisfies the original prompt and that the other choices fail the same test.
Answer: Identify the variable type and question
3. Review case C: Which variable is categorical?
Choices: Favorite app · Height in inches · Minutes studied · Number of siblings
Show solution
- Midterm Review: First identify exactly what the question is asking: Which variable is categorical?
- Compare each answer choice with the calculation or rule, and eliminate choices that do not satisfy the condition.
- Categorical variables name groups or labels.
- Favorite app is a label rather than a measurement.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it satisfies the original prompt and that the other choices fail the same test.
Answer: Favorite app
4. Review case D: One group has range 8 and another has range 13. How much larger is the second range?
Show solution
- Midterm Review: First identify exactly what the question is asking: One group has range 8 and another has range 13. How much larger is the second range?
- For range questions, identify the possible output values after the input restrictions and graph shape are considered.
- Compare the two spreads by subtracting.
- 13 - 8 = 5.
- Check the result by substituting or estimating: the response should match 5 and make sense in the original problem.
Answer: 5
5. Review case E: Which measure of center is pulled most by one extreme high value?
Choices: Mode · Sample size · Mean · Median
Show solution
- Midterm Review: First identify exactly what the question is asking: Which measure of center is pulled most by one extreme high value?
- Compare each answer choice with the calculation or rule, and eliminate choices that do not satisfy the condition.
- The mean uses every value in the calculation.
- An extreme value can pull the mean upward.
- Verify the selected choice by checking that it satisfies the original prompt and that the other choices fail the same test.
Answer: Mean
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