Math Studies Year 1 – Topic 2: Descriptive Statistics IB Review Questions

1. For the set of {8, 4, 2, 10, 2, 5, 9, 12, 2, 6}

(a) calculate the mean;
(b) find the mode;2
(c) find the median.
(Total 4 marks)
2. In the following ordered data, the mean is 6 and the median is 5.
2, b, 3, a, 6, 9, 10, 12
Find each of the following
(a) the value of a;
(b) the value of b.
(Total 8 marks)
3. The cumulative frequency table below shows the ages of 200 students at a college.
Age Number of Students Cumulative Frequency
17 3 3
18 72 75
19 62 137
20 31 m
21 12 180
22 9 189
23–25 5 194
> 25 6 n
(a) What are the values of m and n?
(b) How many students are younger than 20?
(c) Find the value in years of the lower quartile.
(Total 8 marks)
4. The age in months at which a child first starts to walk is observed for a random group of children from a town in Brazil.
The results are
14.3, 11.6, 12.2, 14.0, 20.4, 13.4, 12.9, 11.7, 13.1.
(a) (i) Find the mean of the ages of these children.
(ii) Find the standard deviation of the ages of these children.
(b) Find the median age.
(Total 6 marks)
5. The heights (cm) of seedlings in a sample are shown below.
6 3, 7 key 6 3 represents 63 cm
7 2, 5, 8
8 3, 6, 6, 8, 8
9 2, 5, 7, 8
10 3, 6, 6
11 2, 2
(a) State how many seedlings are in the sample.
(b) Write down the values of
(i) the median;
(ii) the first and third quartile.
(c) Calculate the range.
(d) Using the scale below, draw a box and whisker plot for this data.

60 70 80 90 100 110 120

(Total 6 marks)
6. The distribution of the weights, correct to the nearest kilogram, of the members of a football club is shown in the
following table.
 Weight (kg) 40 – 49 50 – 59 60 – 69 70 – 79
Frequency 6 18 14 4

(a) On the grid below draw a histogram to show the above weight distribution.

(2)

(b) Write down the mid-interval value for the 40 – 49 interval.

(1)

(c) Find an estimate of the mean weight of the members of the club.
(2)

(d) Write down an estimate of the standard deviation of their weights.

(1)
(Total 6 marks)

7. A random sample of 200 females measured the length of their hair in cm. The results are displayed in the cumulative
frequency curve below.
200
175
Cumulative frequency

150
125
100
75
50
25
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
length (cm)
(a) Write down the median length of hair in the sample.
(1)
(b) Find the interquartile range for the length of hair in the sample.
(2)
(c) Given that the shortest length was 6 cm and the longest 47 cm, draw and label a box and whisker plot for the data
on the grid provided below.
 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
length (cm)
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

8. The weights of 90 students in a school were recorded. The information is displayed in the following table.

Weight (kg) Number of students

40 ≤ w < 50 7
50 ≤ w < 60 28
60 ≤ w < 70 35
70 ≤ w < 80 20

(a) Write down the mid interval value for the interval 50 ≤ w < 60.
(1)

(b) Use your graphic display calculator to find an estimate for

(i) the mean weight;
(ii) the standard deviation.
(3)

(c) Find the weight that is 3 standard deviations below the mean.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)
9. The weights in kg, of 80 adult males, were collected and are summarized in the box and whisker plot shown below.

(a) Write down the median weight of the males.

(1)

(b) Calculate the interquartile range.

(2)

(c) Estimate the number of males who weigh between 61 kg and 66 kg.
(1)

(d) Estimate the mean weight of the lightest 40 males.

(2)
(Total 6 marks)
10. The cumulative frequency graph shows the amount of time in minutes, 200 students spend waiting for their train on a
particular morning.

(a) Write down the median waiting time.

(1)

(b) Find the interquartile range for the waiting time.

(2)

The minimum waiting time is zero and the maximum waiting time is 45 minutes.
(c) Draw a box and whisker plot on the grid below to represent this information.

(3)
(Total 6 marks)
11. The mean of the ten numbers listed below is 6.8.
8, 5, 5, 10, 8, 4, 9, 7, p, q
(a) Write down an equation in terms of p and q.
(2)
The mode of these ten numbers is five and p is less than q.
(b) Write down the value of
(i) p;
(ii) q.
(2)

(c) Find the median of the ten numbers.

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

12. The number of hours that a professional footballer trains each day in the month of June is represented in the following
histogram.

10

7
number of days

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
number of hours

(a) Write down the modal number of hours trained each day.

(b) Calculate the mean number of hours he trains each day.

(Total 8 marks)

13. A marine biologist records as a frequency distribution the lengths (L), measured to the nearest centimetre, of 100
mackerel. The results are given in the table below.
Length of mackerel Number of
(L cm) mackerel
27 < L ≤ 29 2
29 < L ≤ 31 4
31 < L ≤ 33 8
33 < L ≤ 35 21
35 < L ≤ 37 30
37 < L ≤ 39 18
39 < L ≤ 41 12
41 < L ≤ 43 5
100
(a) Construct a cumulative frequency table for the data in the table.
(2)
 (b) Draw a cumulative frequency curve.
Hint: Plot your cumulative frequencies at the top of each interval.
(3)

(c) Use the cumulative frequency curve to find an estimate, to the nearest cm for
(i) the median length of mackerel;
(2)
(ii) the interquartile range of mackerel length.
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Math Studies Year 1 – Topic 2: Descriptive Statistics IB Review Question Mark Scheme

60
1. (a) Mean =
10
=6 (A1)
(C1)

(b) Mode = 2 (A1)

(C1)

(c) 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12

Median = 5  6 (M1)
2
= 5.5 (A1)
(C2)
[4]

a6
2. (a) =5 (M1)(A1)
2
a + 6 = 10 (A1)
a=4 (A1) (C4)
42  a  b
(b) =6 (M1)
8
42 + a + b = 48 (A1)
a+b=6
4+b=6 (A1)
b=2 (A1) (C4)
[8]
3. (a) m = 137 + 31 = 168, (M1)(A1)
n = 194 + 6 = 200 or just n =
200 (M1)(A1)
(C4)
(b) 137 students are aged below 20. (A2)
(C2)
(c) 25% of 200 is 50. (M1)
50th student is 18 years old. (A1)
(C2)
[8]

4. (a) (i) mean = 13.7 (M1)(A1) (G2)

(ii) sd =
2.52 (M1)(A1)
(G2)

(b) For attempting to put their numbers in order (M1)

13.1 (A1)
(G2)
[6]
5. (a) 19 seedlings (A1) (C1)

(b) (i) median 88 cm (A1)

st rd
(ii) 1 quartile 78 cm, 3 quartile 103 cm (both correct) (A1) (C2)

(c) 112  63 = 49 cm (A1) (C1)

Note: Accept 63 and 112 both seen, if they appear in the answer space for (c) or under
working for (c) (but not just implied or written on the box plot).

(d) (C2)

Notes: Box with correct median and quartiles marked. (A1)(ft)

Both correct whiskers joined to box with straight lines (A1)(ft) (C2)
Allow maximum errors of  2.
Perfectly ruled lines are not essential.
[6]

6. Unit penalty (UP) applies in part (c) in this question.

(a)

(A1)(A1)
(C2)
Note: (A1) for all correct heights, (A1) for all correct end points (39.5, 49.5 etc.).
Histogram must be drawn with a ruler (straight edge) and endpoints must be clear.
Award (A1) only if both correct histogram and correct frequency polygon drawn.

(b) 44.5 (A1)

(C1)

44.5  6  54.5 18  ...

(c) Mean = (M1)
42
Note: (M1) for a sum of frequencies multiplied by midpoint values divided by 42.
UP = 58.3 kg (A1)(ft)
(C2)
Note: Award (A1)(A0)(AP) for 58.

(d) Standard deviation = 8.44 (A1)

(C1)
Note: If (b) is given as 45 then award
(b) 45 (A0)
(c) 58.8 kg (M1)(A1)(ft) or (C2)(ft) if no working seen.
(d) 8.44 (C1)
[6]
7. Unit penalty (UP) is applicable where indicated.
UP (a) 26cm (A1) (C1)

(b) 33 −19 for identifying correct quartiles. (A1)

UP =14cm. (A1)(ft)
(ft) on their quartiles. (C2)

(c)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
length (cm)
correct median (A1)(ft)
correct quartiles and box (A1)(ft)
endpoints at 6 and 47, joined to box by straight lines. (A1) (C3)
[6]

8. (a) 55 (A1)
(C1)

(i) 62.5 (62.6) (A2)(ft)

(C2)

(ii) 8.86 (A1)

(C1)
Note: Follow through from their answer to part (a).

(c) 62.6 – 3 × 8.86 = 36.0

(M1)(A1)(
ft) (C2)
Note: Accept 36.
Follow through from their values in part (b) only if working is seen.
[6]

9. Unit penalty applies in parts (a) and (d)

UP (a) 61 kg (A1)
(C1)

(b) 66 – 52 (A1)
= 14 (A1)(ft)
(C2)
Note: Award (A1) for identifying quartiles, (A1)(ft) for correct subtraction of their
quartiles.

(c) 20 (A1)
(C1)

49.5  20  56.5  20
(d) (M1)
40
Note: Award (M1) for multiplication of midpoints by frequencies.
UP = 53 kg (A1)
(C2)
[6]
10. Unit penalty applies in part (a)
UP (a) Median = 25 mins (A1)
(C1)

(b) 32 – 16 (A1)
= 16 (A1)(ft)
(C2)
Notes: Award (A1) for identifying correct quartiles, (A1)(ft) for correct answer to
subtraction of their quartiles.

(c)

median shown (A1)(ft)

box with ends at their quartiles (A1)(ft)
end points at 0 and 45 joined to box with straight lines (A1)
(C3)
Note: Award (A1)(ft)(A1)(ft)(A0) if lines go right through the box.
[6]

8  5  5  10  8  4  9  7  p  q
11. (a) = 6.8 or
10
equivalent (M1)(A1)
(C2)
Note: Award (M1) for correct substituted mean formula, (A1) for correct
substitution.

(b) (i) p=5 (A1)(ft)

(ii) q=7 (A1)(ft)

(C2)
Note: Follow through from their answers to parts (a) and (b) (i).

(c) 7
(M1)(A1)(
ft) (C2)
Notes: Award (M1) for an attempt to order their numbers.
Follow through from their answers to parts (b)(i) and (ii).
[6]
12. (a) 6 hours (accept (5.5–6.5)) (A2)
(C2)
(4  4  5  5  6  9  7  8  8  4)
(b)
30
(M1)(A2)(
A1)
183
=
30
= 6.1 (A2)
(C6)
Note: Award (M1) for method, (A2) for all 5 terms in numerator correct.
((A1) for 3 or 4 terms in the numerator correct), (A1) for denominator.
[8]
13. (a)
L (cm) f f
 29 2 2
 31 4 6
 33 8 14
 35 21 35
 37 30 65
 39 18 83
 41 12 95
 43 5 100 (A2) 2
Notes: Award (Al) for four correct entries in the column headed f.
Award (A2) for all 8 correct.

(b)
100

90

80

70

60
cumulative frequency

50

40

30

20

10

0
27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
length L (cm) (A3) 3
Notes: Award (Al) for both axes and correct scale.
Award [½ mark] for each correctly plotted point and round up to a maximum of [2
marks].

(c) (i) Median length of mackerel = 36 cm ± 0.2 cm (M1)

= 36 cm (A1)
(ii) Interquartile range of mackerel length = 3.8 ± 0.2 cm (M1)
= 4 cm (A1)
4*
*(read from candidate’s curve)
[9]