Question

The science teacher gives daily homework. For a random sample of days throughout the year, the median number of problems is 5 and the IQR is 2. The Spanish teacher also gives daily homework. For a random sample of days throughout the year, the median number of problems is 10 and the IQR is 1. If you estimate the median number of science homework problems to be 5 and the median number of Spanish problems to be 10, which is more likely to be accurate? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

SCIENCE SEEMS MORE ACCURATE

Explanation:

The interquartile range (IQR) = difference between the upper and lower quartile (Q3 - Q1)

The median can be estimated as :

(Q3 - IQR/2) or (Q1 + IQR/2).

FOR SCIENCE:

MEDIAN NUMBER = 5

IQR = 2

IQR = Q3 - Q1

Q3 = median + IQR/ 2 = 5 + 2/2 = 6

Q1 = median - IQR/2 = 5 - 2/2 = 4

FOR SPANISH:

MEDIAN = 10

IQR = 1

IQR = Q3 - Q1

Q3 = median + IQR/ 2 = 10 + 1/2 = 10.5

Q1 = median - IQR/2 = 10 - 1/2 = 9.5

Science has a lower median score and an interquartile range which is reasonable wider than Spanish with a larger median value (but a very narrow interquartile range).