Question

The number of animals at a shelter from day to day has a mean of 37.6, with a standard deviation of 6.1 animals. The distribution of number of animals is not assumed to be symmetric. Between what two numbers of animals does Chebyshev's Theorem guarantees that we will find at least 89% of the days

Answer 1

Between 19.3 and 55.9 animals.

Explanation:

Chebyshev Theorem

The Chebyshev Theorem can also be applied to non-normal distribution. It states that:

At least 75% of the measures are within 2 standard deviations of the mean.

At least 89% of the measures are within 3 standard deviations of the mean.

An in general terms, the percentage of measures within k standard deviations of the mean is given by
`100(1 - (1)/(k^(2)))`.

In this question:

Mean of 37.6, standard deviation of 6.1.

Between what two numbers of animals does Chebyshev's Theorem guarantees that we will find at least 89% of the days?

Within 3 standard deviations of the mean, so:

37.6 - 3*6.1 = 19.3

37.6 + 3*6.1 = 55.9

Between 19.3 and 55.9 animals.