Tyleen Vasquez

Biology Lab. 1212

Lab assignment #1

Vasquez 1

Post-lab assignment questions (20 points).

1. Define the following terms: accuracy, precision, mean, median,
range, standard deviation (6 points).
Accuracy- Is a group of measurements that refers to how
closely the measured values agree with the true or correct value.
Mean-Is the arithmetic average of a group of measurements.
Median- This is the middle value of a group of measurements.
Range- Is the difference between the extreme measurements
of the sample.
Standard deviation- This indicates how measurements vary
about the mean.
2. What does a small standard deviation signify? What does a large
standard deviation signify? (1 point).
A small standard deviation signifies that the data is clustered
closely around the mean and more reliable.
A large deviation signifies that the data is widely spread out
and less reliable.
3. Using the target analogy, draw a diagram to illustrate how 20
arrows can be shot with a large vs small standard deviation (1 point).
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the metric
system of measurements? (1 point)
The advantage of using the metric system to come out with
accurate and preside measurements.
The disadvantage of using the metric system is it doesnt
work well with fractions.
5. Why is it important for all scientists to use a standard system of
measures rather than the system that may be most popular in their
home country or region? (1 point)
It is important for all scientist to use a standard system of
measures rather than the system that may be most popular in
their home country or region due to the fact that math is
universal and most of the scientist that are doing research that is
important to the entire world so it is practical to universal
system.

Vasquez 2
6. Suppose that a biologist states that the average height of
undergraduate students at your university is 205 cm plus or minus a
standard deviation of 17 cm. What does this mean? (2 points)
This means that the height has a range from 188 to 222,
which is the average plus or minus 17.
7.

Make the following conversions (4 points with 1 point for each):

a. 92.4 millimeters = _.0924_meters = _9.24__ centimeters
b. kilograms = __3100__grams = __3,100,000_ milligrams
8. Consider the following dataset with a normal distribution, and find
the range, mean, median, standard deviation of this dataset (4 points
with 1 point for each).
22, 19, 21, 18, 15, 23, 17 (Please show your work. Calculator is
allowed in the calculation).
Mean: 22+19+21+18+15+23+17=1357=19.3
The mean is 19
Median: 15,17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23
The median is 19.
Range: 23-15=8
The Range is 8.
Standard deviation:
N= Sample number

Deviation (Difference)

Sum of difference
Squared

15

15-19= -4

16

17

17-19= -2

18

18-19= -1

19

19-19= 0

21

21-19= 2

22

22-19= 3

23

23-19= 4

16

Total N= 135
Variance= 50135-1= 0.373134328
SD:0.373134328= 0.611

Total Sum Differ Sq.= 50

Vasquez 3

The standard deviation is 0.611