Stat 2000, Section 001, Homework Assignment 3 (Due 9/24/2001 11:59pm)
- 0) Reading: Section 1.3
- 1) Please work on the following textbook exercises in Moore/McCabe:
- Exercise 1.69, 1.70, 1.74, 1.76, 1.77 (1 Point each)
- 2) Answer questions 1.82, 1.84, and 1.87 in Moore/McCabe using the
Table A in the textbook. Then check your results using the
Web at
http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/z_table.html
Given that you have access to the Web at all times, which
method (use of the table or the Web application) do you prefer,
e.g., which is easier to use. Explain.
(10 points)
By the way, the interactive Normal table at
http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/z_table.html
is only one small part of an entire on-line introductory
statistics book. If you ever need to look up some facts
from an introductory statistics
class but have no book at hand, you may find the answer
in HyperStat at
http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/index.html.
- 3) In class, we have seen many types of static statistical
graphics such as histograms, pie charts, or even micromaps.
Since these graphics are printed on paper, there is obviously
no possible interaction with these graphics. However, a medium such as the
World Wide Web allows to interactively manipulate statistical
graphics. It is to be expected that in the near future more
and more statistical data, e.g., from Government agencies,
can be interactively accessed and manipulated on the Web.
One tool that allows such an interaction with statistical
graphics on the Web is the Graphics Production Library (GPL) at
http://www.monumental.com/dan_rope/gpl.
(a) Describe in two or three sentences what the 4 `Sample Applets'
(Barley, CPI, Unemployment, and TRI Release) are about.
To make use of the full potential of these interactive graphics,
you should also look at the Overview page at
http://www.monumental.com/dan_rope/gpl/overview.html
and apply these features to some of the interactive graphics.
(6 points)
Depending on the time of the day, type of computer, and connection
to the Internet (modem or directly at USU), it can take a few
minutes before something happens on your computer screen. If you
cannot bring anything to show up on your screen, see me during
my office hours and we can jointly look at these applets.
(b) Now look at the Barley data at
http://www.monumental.com/dan_rope/gpl/barley.html
again.
Zoom the data such that all regions are visible at the
same time and compare the two years 1931 and 1932 (this can be done
most easily if you grab one of the data columns with the mouse
and move it into the other data column - if this does not
work with your Web browser, look at the data very carefully...).
Isn't there something strange in the data? Explain! (4 points)
If you are interested in more details regarding
the GPL, there is an article by Carr, Valliant and Rope
about the GPL published in Vol. 7, No. 2, pages 19-26, in the
Statistical Computing and Statistical Graphics Newsletter
which is accessible at
http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/ms/who/cocteau/newsletter/index.html.