FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) BIOLOGY

BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
BIO510
ASB2Cb
EXPERIMENT 1: BASIC CONCEPTS OF STATISTICS AND VARIATION

STUDENT'S
NAME
STUDENT'S
NAME
STUDENT'S
NAME

MOHAMAD SYAMIL BIN MD.

JANI
MUHAMMAD AIZUDDIN BIN
KHALID
MOHD NAWAF BIN MOHD
YUSOFF

2013618492
2013689746
2013840534

LECTURER'S NAME: Dr. HASNUN NITA BINTI ISMAIL

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 10 MARCH 2014
DATE OF SUBMIT: 14 MARCH 2014

OBJECTIVE

To calculate the following descriptive statistic: mean, variance and

standard deviation
To introduce the concept of normal distribution
To determine the relationship between the two variables
To develop understanding and apply the basic concept of statistic and
variation in population

METHOD

A set containing 10 pieces of leaves was picked, measured and

recorded their length and width. Based on the data collected, the
mean, variance and standard deviation of the length and width were

calculated. The mean weight of the 10 leaves was also measured.

The process was repeated with another 5 set of leaves.
The data gained from the 50 leaves was used to plot a graph of leave
length versus leave width.

Result

Mean Length VS Mean Width

6.2

5.8

f(x) = 0.26x + 0.58

R = 0.88

5.6
mean length

Linear ()
5.4

5.2

4.8
17

17.5

18

18.5

19

mean width

19.5

20

20.5

Leaves lenght vs Leaves Width

12

10

leaves lenght

f(x) = 0.08x + 4.12

R = 0.03

Linear ()

0
5

10

15

20

leaves width

25

30

DISCUSSION
The experiment was done to study the relationship between length and
width of the leaves. This experiment also was carry out to determine and
applying the basic concept of statistic and variation in population. 50 pieces
of leaves of random length and width was divided into a set of tens and later
measured its length, width and weight. The data was collected and a graph
of length versus width was plotted. The statistical value such as mean,
variance and standard deviation was also calculated.
The graph has been plotted shown that the width of leaves increase
directly proportional with its length. Although the data shown that the line
was not completely accurate, the distribution of the data shows it scatters
into a form of linear increase. So, the length and width can be conclude as
dependence, where the longer the length of the leaves, the wider the width
of the leaves.
The statistical values of the experiment; mean, variance and standard
deviation also play a vital part in proposing this conclusion. Mean can be
defined as the sum of all the value divided with the number of the value.
Mean can be used as the central tendency to observe the data distribution
meanwhile, variance is used to measure how far the data spread out from
the mean value. The smaller the variance value, the smaller it spread out
from the mean value. Based on the calculation, the variance from the
experiment has a small value, showing that our data doesnt spread away
too much from its mean. The data distribute nicely along the linear line,
showing the dependence of the two variables. The same case applies to the
standard deviation. Standard deviation also measure how much the data
distribute from the mean value. The smaller the value of the standard
deviation, the smaller the value of data spread from the mean. Based on the
evidence above, we can conclude that the higher the length, the higher the
width. The variables depend on each other.

CONCLUSION
As the conclusion we have learned in how to calculate and determine
the mean, variance and standard variation. From the experiment, we can
conclude that the higher the length, the higher the width.
depend on each other.

REFERENCE

UiTM BIO 510 Laboratory Manual

http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-deviation.html
http://www.mathsisfun.com/mean.html

The variables

POST-LAB QUESTIONS
1. What can you say about the mean length and mean width of the
different sets of the leaves. Are they very different or similar? How
did you arrive at this conclusion? Discuss.
There are difference in the mean length and mean width in the different sets
of the leaves. However, there is no drastic difference in those sets. The
difference is maybe because the age of the individual leaves. The leaves are
from the same species, based on their similar appearances. The size of the
leaf grows with its age. Therefore, the younger the leaf, the smaller its size.
The leaves are randomly divided into 5 sets of tens. However, it was
arranged into a similar size, causing the mean value was not differ much
from the individual value.

2.

What

is

meant

by

variance?

The

leaves

have

different

measurement of the width and length. What is the meaning of this

statement? Discuss with respect to variance. What is meant by the
standard deviation?
Variance is used to measure how much the data spread out from the mean
value. The statement shows that there are variation in length and width of a
group of leaves. There is no similar individual in a population whether in

appearance or size. However, the size doesnt differ drastically with each
other as proved by the variance. The calculated variance has a small value,
showing that the length and width of the leaves didnt spread away too much
from its mean value. This is because the smaller the value of variance, the
smaller the spread of data distribution from the mean value. Standard
deviation also used to measure the dispersion of data from its mean value.
Standard deviation is easier to use in real-life problem as it is the square root
of variance thus has similar unit as the data e.g if data in cm, variance will
be in cm2 while standard deviation will be same as the data, which is cm.

3. What could be the possible errors during the data recording?

There are not many possible errors that could happen during this experiment
because the procedure was quite simple and straight forward. However, it is
not an excuse not be careful during conducting this experiment. The first
possible error that might occur is during the recording the data. The leaves
are from the same species, based on similar appearance, therefore confusion
while taking the measurement could happen. The correct way to avoid the
error is by measuring one leaf at a time, taking both its length and width first
before proceeding to the next one. Labeling the leafs number also will help
avoiding the error.

The next possible error also might happen during the

process of recording the data. Student must determine the correct point to
start taking measurement for length and width. If the point was not
determined properly before taking the measurement, the data might not be
correct and uniform. All possible error must be eliminated to get an accurate
and consistent result.

4. Why is it necessary to have different set of measurement for the

leaves width and length?
It is necessary to have different set of measurement for leaves width and
length because to ensure a consistent result. It is hard to determine whether
the results are correct if only one set was used. By having different sets, we
can compare our result with the other set for consistent result. It also obeys
the law of nature because there is no similar individual in a population.