NAME: ______BLOCK: ______DATE: ______

MATES Statistics: Summer Assignment

This summer assignment is designed to maintain your mathematical skills and to demonstrate mastery of prerequisite topics to the course that you are entering. Statistics is completely different from any other “math” class you have ever taken. In fact, some would say that it is not a math class at all. Mathematicians have been known to complain that the problem with statistics is that it is not math. At many universities, the math department and the statistics department are distinct. In fact, statistics is applied mathematics, with the addition of skills and concepts unique to statistics, and a large dose of critical thinking and analysis.

Please be aware that statistics is a reading and writing course. Almost all problems are “word problems” – how could they be anything else? Statistics is context based – what you do depends on the facts. Answers must be complete, which means your analysis and choice of method explained in sentences, followed by your calculations.

This course makes extensive use of handheld calculator technology. It is strongly recommended that students purchase a graphing calculator prior to the start of the course. The recommended calculators are Texas Instruments models TI-83, TI-84 or the NSpire. We will have a small number of loaner graphing calculators available for use during class. Major retailers typically run sales on calculators starting around the middle of August.

For best results, do not wait until the end of the summer to complete this project! You should plan to work on the learning activities in several sessions spread out over the course of the summer.This assignment will be due on the first day of school. Late assignments will notbe accepted. Please read and follow all directions carefully. This is your first opportunity to demonstrate your work ethic to the instructor. It will count as your first assessment grade. Good luck!

Sincerely,

MATES Math Department

Part I: VIDEO URL:

Go to the URL listed above and watch the following videos:

1. / What is Statistics?
2. / Stemplots

After watching the videos, please respond to the following questions. Your answers need to be typed into a Word document. Your responses should be as detailed as possible, and based on the information you have seen.

1. List some of the variables that were taken on soldiers for the sizing data bank.
2. What was the overall shape of the distribution of soldiers’ foot lengths? About where was the center of the distribution?
3. What variable was used to measure fuel economy on Toyota’s line of vehicles?
4. Focus on the stemplot of fuel economy for Toyota’s 2012 line. What new information became evident (or clearer) when the stem was expanded?
5. What was learned from back-to-back stemplots about the change in fuel economy in Toyota’s vehicle line from 1984 to 2012?

Your completed document should be emailed to the following address before the first day of school:

Part II: Kahn Academy: URL:

  1. Choose to sign in either with Google or e-mail. You may also use your OCVTS issued Google account. Do not sign in with Facebook, because you will not be able to log in this way on the school servers in September.
  2. Once you have signed up and verified your account, you need to select a coach. Go into your profile by clicking your name in the upper right corner. After clicking, click on your name again in the drop down box. This will bring you to your profile page.
  3. Once on your profile page, enter in the class codeY7UHY4and click join class. Click on Coaches on the left side, and select Joseph Arfin as your coach. This will enable MATES to have access to the records of the work that you have completed.
  4. Click on Learn in the upper left corner, then Math and then Probability and Statistics. Below are the specific lessons you need to complete. Some sections include videos and practice questions to apply the knowledge from the video. Once you complete enough correct responses in a row, you have achieved the “practiced” level. At that point, you may choose to move forward, or you wish to have additional practice.

Please complete all content in the following sections of Probability and Statistics:

  • Statistical Studies
  • Descriptive Statistics

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