Question

A data set has 60 observations with a minimum value equal to 30 and a maximum value equal to 72 . The number of classes using the 2ᵏ≥n rule is

a. 7.
b.8.
c. 5.
d. 6.

Answer 1

The smallest value of k that satisfies the 2^k ≥ n rule for a data set with 60 observations is k=6, resulting in 6 classes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to determining the appropriate number of classes for a data set using the 2k ≥ n rule, where n is the number of observations in the data set. Since there are 60 observations, we need to find the smallest value of k such that 2k ≥ 60. Through trial and error or calculation, we find that when k=6 (26=64), the inequality holds true. However, for k=5 (25=32), it does not satisfy the inequality since 32 is less than 60. Consequently, the smallest number of classes that meets the rule is 6. Therefore, the correct answer is d. 6.