The means graph and prediction
The means graph and prediction
Prediction is estimating the dependent variable from a known value of the independent variable : how tall is a son whose father is 185 cm tall expected to be? When there is a statistical relation, helps to predict , but not exactly.
A researcher measured the heights of 13 fathers and of their grown-up sons. To build a means graph:
- Divide the axis into equal bands: 160–170, 170–180, 180–190, 190–200.
- In each band work out the mean of : in the band 160–170 the sons are 168, 170 and 175 cm tall, and the mean is .
- Mark each mean above the middle of its band, and join the points with lines.
| Father’s height | 160–170 | 170–180 | 180–190 | 190–200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son’s mean height | 171 | 177 | 184 | 190 |
The means graph rises, like the points: the relation is positive.
The prediction of for every value of in a band is the band’s mean.
- For the son of a father 185 cm tall, in the band 180–190, the prediction is 184 cm.
- The prediction is not exact: this band has sons of 180 and of 187 cm. The more spread out the points in a band, the less exact the prediction.
- When there is a lot of data for each value of , a mean can be worked out for each value separately, without bands.
15 pupils wrote down how many hours they studied for a test, and the mark they got.
Divide the axis into the bands 0–2, 2–4, 4–6 and 6–8. A value on the border between two bands belongs to the higher one.
Work out the mean mark in the band 2–4.
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
Work out the mean mark in the band 4–6.
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
A pupil studied for 5 hours. What does the means graph predict for the pupil’s mark? Why is the prediction not necessarily the mark the pupil will get?
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
At a primary school, 15 children aged 6 to 10 were asked how many hours they slept at night.
| Age (years) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sleep | 11 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 10.5 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 10 | 9 | 9.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 9.5 |
Work out the mean hours of sleep of the 8-year-olds.
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
Draw the means graph: a mean for each age.
What is the prediction of the hours of sleep of a 9-year-old?
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power
/ – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power