Basic Arithmetic : Basic Statistics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Basic Arithmetic

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Mean

For her calculus class, Marie has scored \(\displaystyle 88\)\(\displaystyle 78\), and \(\displaystyle 95\) on three of her tests so far. What is the minimum score Marie needs to receive on her 4th test in order to have an average of \(\displaystyle 90\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 100\)

\(\displaystyle 89\)

\(\displaystyle 99\)

\(\displaystyle 96\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 99\)

Explanation:

To find the average of a set of numbers, add up the individual values and divide by the total number of values you have. 

For the test scores, we can set up the following equation with x being the score on the fourth test:

\(\displaystyle \frac{88+78+95+x}{4}=90\)

Now, solve for x

\(\displaystyle 88+78+95+x=360\)

\(\displaystyle 261+x=360\)

\(\displaystyle x=99\)

Example Question #2 : Mean

Find the mean of the following set of numbers: \(\displaystyle 1,1,1,2,4,5,5,7,8,12\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 4.6\)

\(\displaystyle 4.5\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4.6\)

Explanation:

To find the mean of a set of numbers, you must add them all and then divide their sum by the number of total members of the set. 

\(\displaystyle 1+1+1+2+4+5+5+7+8+12=46\) and there are \(\displaystyle 10\) numbers in the set, so we divide \(\displaystyle 46\) by \(\displaystyle 10\),

\(\displaystyle \frac{1+1+1+2+4+5+5+7+8+12}{10}=\frac{46}{10}\)

 

giving us a mean of \(\displaystyle 4.6\).

Example Question #1 : Basic Statistics

Jimmy's dog had 6 puppies. He weighed the puppies right after they were born. Their weights were 657 grams, 789 grams, 456 grams, 554 grams, 635 grams, and 446 grams. In grams, what was the mean weight of the puppies?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 707.4\)

\(\displaystyle 3537\)

\(\displaystyle 632.9\)

\(\displaystyle 589.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 589.5\)

Explanation:

The mean of a set of numbers is the same as its average. 

\(\displaystyle \text{Mean}=\text{Average}=\frac{\text{Sum of all the numbers}}{\text{Total number of individual items}}\)

So then, to find the mean weight for the puppies,

\(\displaystyle \text{Mean}=\frac{657+789+456+554+635+446}{6}=589.5\)

Example Question #3 : Basic Statistics

Danielle tracked how much she paid per meal for the past five meals. She paid \(\displaystyle \$14.51, \$11.21, \$9.53, \$17.56, \text{and }\$8.29\). What was the average she paid per meal?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$12.22\)

\(\displaystyle \$15.28\)

\(\displaystyle \$11.21\)

\(\displaystyle \$61.10\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$12.22\)

Explanation:

To find the average (also known as the mean), we use the following formula:

\(\displaystyle \text{Average}=\frac{\text{Sum of all given numbers}}{\text{The amount of numbers we have}}\)

So, for the numbers that are given in the question, we can set up this equation:

\(\displaystyle \text{Average}=\frac{14.51+11.21+9.53+17.56+8.29}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Average}=\frac{61.1}{5}=12.22\)

Example Question #1 : Basic Statistics

Judy received these scores on her last four math tests:

\(\displaystyle 87\)\(\displaystyle 91\)\(\displaystyle 79\)\(\displaystyle 88\)

Her teacher calculates the final grade from the mean of five tests, which are all weighted equally. If Judy gets a \(\displaystyle 90\) on her fifth test, what will be her overall grade in the class?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 90\)

\(\displaystyle 79\)

\(\displaystyle 87\)

\(\displaystyle 88\)

\(\displaystyle 93\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 87\)

Explanation:

To find Judy's overall grade, you must find the mean of all five test scores.

Add together all five scores:

\(\displaystyle 87+91+79+88+90=435\)

Then divide the sum by the total number of scores:

\(\displaystyle 435\div5=87\)

\(\displaystyle 87\) is Judy's overall score in the class.

Example Question #1 : How To Find Mean

What is the mean of 44, 22, 134, and 200?

Possible Answers:

66

144

100

88

Correct answer:

100

Explanation:

To find the mean, you must add all of the numbers together and divide by the amount of numbers. In this case there are four numbers so, we must deivide the total sum by 4.

\(\displaystyle \frac{22+44+134+200}{4}=\frac{400}{4}= 100\)

Example Question #3 : Mean

Calculate the mean of the following numbers: 11, 13, 16, 13, 14, 19, 13, 13

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 14\)

Explanation:

First, calculate the sum of all of the numbers.

\(\displaystyle \small 11+13+16+13+14+19+13+13=112\)

Next, divide by the total number.

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{112}{8}=14\)

Example Question #1 : Statistics And Probability

The class average in a class of 15 is 86%. If one additional student earns a 100% in the class, what is the new class average.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 86.875\%\)

\(\displaystyle 93\%\)

None of the available answers

\(\displaystyle 87.4\%\)

There is not enough information to answer this question

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 86.875\%\)

Explanation:

We can treat this as if the entire class had exactly 86% as their average, so the new average is:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(86\cdot 15)+100}{16}=86.875\)

Example Question #1 : Mean

What is the mean of the following numbers?

88,99,31,47,68,27

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 88\)

\(\displaystyle 58\)

\(\displaystyle 64\)

\(\displaystyle 60\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 60\)

Explanation:

To find the mean you add all of the numbers together and divide it by the amount of numbers. In this case there are six numbers so \(\displaystyle \frac{(88+99+31+47+68+27)}{6}=\frac{360}{6}\)

The answer is \(\displaystyle 60\).

Example Question #12 : Statistics And Probability

The mean of the set \(\displaystyle \left \{ 27, 14,11,23,x\right \}\) is 20. What is the mean of the set \(\displaystyle \left \{ x,2x,11,8,31\right \}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 27\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 25\)

Explanation:

To find mean, we add up the values in a set and divide by the number of terms in that set. We begin this problem with the knowledge that the mean of the first set is 20. Since that set contains five numbers, we know that its total sum must be 100 (since 100 divided by 5 is 20).

 \(\displaystyle 27+11+14+23 = 75\)

so \(\displaystyle x\) must be 25.

Now, the only step left is to find the mean of \(\displaystyle \left \{ 25,50,11,8,31\right \}\).

These values add up to 125, and when we divide by 5, we are left with a final answer of 25.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors