For each of the settings and accompanying data sets, evaluate the data that was collected relative to the problem setting. Evaluate whether the data collected was appropriate and representative of the information that is required to analyze the problem presented in the problem setting.
Setting 1:
You are going to sell your house. You are determining what the price should be. To help you, you have collected information of houses that have sold in your neighborhood during the past eighteen months. You checked houses within a four mile radius and here is the information you collected. You are going to base your determination of the price of your house based on the following information. Evaluate and discuss whether the data collected was appropriate and representative of the information that is needed to analyze the problem presented in the problem setting.
House | House Age | Square Feet | Selling Price |
1 | 33 | 1812 | $190,000 |
2 | 32 | 1915 | $205,200 |
3 | 32 | 1840 | $194,000 |
4 | 32 | 1832 | $192,000 |
5 | 33 | 1851 | $202,000 |
6 | 34 | 2032 | $208,600 |
7 | 31 | 1755 | $188,200 |
8 | 30 | 1805 | $205,000 |
9 | 28 | 1900 | $215,000 |
10 | 29 | 1485 | $192,000 |
11 | 31 | 1525 | $195,000 |
12 | 32 | 1515 | $192,200 |
13 | 33 | 1685 | $201,300 |
14 | 34 | 1600 | $205,400 |
15 | 35 | 1650 | $218,000 |
Setting 2:
You are going to set your budget for your utility (gas/water/sewer and electricity) expenses for the next year. You have recorded your utility expenses for the past year. That information is provided below. Evaluate and discuss whether the data collected was appropriate and representative of the information that is required to analyze the problem presented in the problem setting.
Utilities | Utilities | ||
Period | Gas, Water, Sewer | Electricity | |
Mar, 2011 | 125.47 | 65.68 | |
Apr, 2011 | 70.89 | 61.5 | |
May, 2011 | 72.58 | 59.93 | |
Jun, 2011 | 80.91 | 72.17 | |
Jul, 2011 | 66.08 | 101.35 | |
Aug, 2011 | 84.58 | 118.04 | |
Sep, 2011 | 80.39 | 80.07 | |
Oct, 2011 | 88.12 | 60.76 | |
Nov, 2011 | 86.5 | 58.7 | |
Dec, 2011 | 130.06 | 70.22 | |
Jan, 2012 | 131.34 | 65.5 | |
Feb, 2012 | 121.2 | 67.71 | |
Mar, 2012 | 98.96 | 67.99 |