AP Statistics : How to find mean of a random variable

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Statistics

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 :How To Find Mean Of A Random Variable

Let us suppose you are a waiter. You work your first four shifts and receive the following in tips: (1) 20, (2) 30, (3) 15, (4) 5. What is the mean amount of tips you will receive in a given day?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The answer is 17.5. Simply take the values for each day, add them, and divide by the total number of days to obtain the mean:

Example Question #2 :How To Find Mean Of A Random Variable

There arecollectable coins in a bag.areounces,areounces,areounces, andareounces. If one coin is randomly selected, what is the mean possible weight in ounces?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are required to find the mean outcome where the probability of each possible result varies--the random/weighted mean.

First, multiply each possible outcome by the probability of that outcome occurring.

Second, add these results together.

Example Question #3 :How To Find Mean Of A Random Variable

A basketball player makesof his three-point shots. If he takesthree-point shots each game, how many points per game does he score from three-point range?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First convert.

The player's three-point shooting follows a binomial distribution withand.

On average, he thus makesthree-point shots per game.

This means he averages 12 points per game from three-point range if he tries to make 10 three-pointers per game.

Example Question #4 :How To Find Mean Of A Random Variable

Tim samples the average plant height of potato plants for his science class and finds the following distribution (in inches):

Which of the following is/are true about the data?

i: the mode is

ii: the mean is

iii: the median is

iv: the range is

Possible Answers:

ii, iii & iv

all of the above

i, ii & iii

i & ii

i & iii

Correct answer:

i & ii

Explanation:

Analyzing the data, there are more 6s than anything else (mode), the median is betweenand, the mean is, and the range is

Example Question #5 :How To Find Mean Of A Random Variable

Robert's work schedule for next week will be released today. Robert will work either 45, 40, 25, or 12 hours. The probabilities for each possibility are listed below:

45 hours: 0.3

40 hours: 0.2

25 hours: 0.4

12 hours: 0.1

What is the mean outcome for the number of hours that Robert will work?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are required to find the mean outcome where the probability of each possible result varies--the random/weighted mean. First, multiply each possible outcome by the probability of that outcome occurring. Second, add these results together.

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