MATHEMATICS · Multi-part · AP · AP Statistics · Exploring One-Variable Data · Exploring One-Variable Data
Problem
Three laboratory instruments, P, Q and R, were tested seven times each to record the time (in seconds) taken to complete a chemical reaction. The observations are:
Instrument P: 12, 15, 14, 16, 13, 15, 70
Instrument Q: 22, 24, 23, 21, 25, 22, 23
Instrument R: 35, 40, 45, 38, 42, 41, 39
Answer the following.
(i) Compute the range for each instrument.
(ii) Compute the standard deviation for each instrument (correct to two decimal places).
(iii) Discuss how the presence of an extreme value affects the range and the standard deviation, and rank the instruments from most to least consistent, giving reasons based on your calculations.