Table of contents
- 1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data55m
- 2. Describing Data with Tables and Graphs1h 55m
- 3. Describing Data Numerically1h 45m
- 4. Probability2h 16m
- 5. Binomial Distribution & Discrete Random Variables2h 33m
- 6. Normal Distribution and Continuous Random Variables1h 38m
- 7. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Mean1h 3m
- 8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion1h 12m
- 9. Hypothesis Testing for One Sample1h 1m
- 10. Hypothesis Testing for Two Samples2h 8m
- 11. Correlation48m
- 12. Regression1h 4m
- 13. Chi-Square Tests & Goodness of Fit1h 20m
- 14. ANOVA1h 0m
3. Describing Data Numerically
Standard Deviation
Problem 3.2.19
Textbook Question
In Exercises 5–20, find the range, variance, and standard deviation for the given sample data. Include appropriate units (such as “minutes”) in your results. (The same data were used in Section 3-1, where we found measures of center. Here we find measures of variation.) Then answer the given questions.
California Smokers In the California Health Interview Survey, randomly selected adults are interviewed. One of the questions asks how many cigarettes are smoked per day, and results are listed below for 50 randomly selected respondents. How well do the results reflect the smoking behavior of California adults?
[IMAGE]

1
Step 1: Identify the data set provided in the problem. The data represents the number of cigarettes smoked per day by 50 randomly selected respondents. Ensure you have the full data set to proceed with calculations.
Step 2: Calculate the range of the data. The range is the difference between the maximum and minimum values in the data set. Use the formula: .
Step 3: Compute the variance for the sample data. First, find the mean (average) of the data using the formula: . Then, calculate the squared differences between each data point and the mean, sum them up, and divide by (since this is a sample). The formula for sample variance is: .
Step 4: Calculate the standard deviation. The standard deviation is the square root of the variance. Use the formula: . This provides a measure of how spread out the data is around the mean.
Step 5: Interpret the results. Compare the range, variance, and standard deviation to assess the variability in the data. Discuss how well the sample data reflects the smoking behavior of California adults, considering the sample size and randomness of the selection process.

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
7mPlay a video:
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Range
The range is a measure of variation that indicates the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set. It provides a simple way to understand the spread of the data, showing how much variability exists. For example, if the highest number of cigarettes smoked per day is 20 and the lowest is 0, the range would be 20 - 0 = 20 cigarettes.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Find 5-Number Summary - TI-84 Calculator Example 1
Variance
Variance quantifies the degree to which data points differ from the mean of the data set. It is calculated by averaging the squared differences between each data point and the mean. A higher variance indicates greater dispersion among the data points, which can be crucial for understanding the consistency of smoking behavior among respondents.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Variance & Standard Deviation of Discrete Random Variables
Standard Deviation
Standard deviation is the square root of the variance and provides a measure of the average distance of each data point from the mean. It is expressed in the same units as the original data, making it more interpretable. A smaller standard deviation suggests that the data points are closer to the mean, while a larger standard deviation indicates more variability in smoking habits among the surveyed individuals.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Calculating Standard Deviation
Watch next
Master Calculating Standard Deviation with a bite sized video explanation from Patrick
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice