Elementary Statistical Methods
Elementary Statistical Methods
Lab Ch.2 – Frequency Distributions and Graphs
Critical Thinking; Communication Skills; Empirical/Quantitative Skills
This lab involves making an informed decision based on a subjective comparison. We will consider the important issue of car crash fatalities. Car crash fatalities are devastating to the families involved and they often involve lawsuits and large insurance payments. Listed below are the ages of 100 randomly selected drivers who were killed in car crashes. Also given is a frequency distribution of licensed drivers by age.
Table 1
Ages in years of drivers killed in car crashes
37
76
18
81
28
29
18
18
27
20
18
17
70
87
45
32
88
20
18
28
17
51
24
37
24
21
18
18
17
40
25
16
45
31
74
38
16
30
17
34
34
27
87
24
45
24
44
73
18
44
16
16
73
17
16
51
24
16
31
38
86
19
52
35
18
18
69
17
28
38
69
65
57
45
23
18
56
16
20
22
77
18
73
26
58
24
21
21
29
51
17
30
16
17
36
42
18
76
53
27
Table 2
Age
Number of licensed
drivers (in millions)
16-19
9.2
20-29
33.6
30-39
40.8
40-49
37.0
50-59
24.2
60-69
17.5
70-79
12.7
80-89
4.3
1. Convert the given frequency distribution in Table 2 to a relative frequency distribution.
2. Create a relative frequency distribution for the ages of drivers killed in car crashes in Table 1.
Use the same class limits as in Table 2.
3. Compare the two relative frequency distributions. Which age categories appear to have substantially greater proportions of fatalities than the proportions of licensed drivers?
4. Construct a side-by-side bar graph that is effective in identifying age categories that are more prone to fatal car crashes. (see page 70 of the textbook for an example)
5. Write a report that compares the two relative frequency distributions. Include which age categories appear to have substantially greater proportions of fatalities than proportions of licensed drivers. This report should be written from the context of an insurance company and their reason for setting higher auto insurance rates for these age categories. Use complete sentences and proper grammar.