The table shows the distribution of ages of 22 students in a school. Age (years)

FURTHER MATHEMATICS
WAEC 2013

The table shows the distribution of ages of 22 students in a school.

Age (years)12-1415-1718-2021-2324-26
Frequency610321

Using an assumed mean of 19, calculate, correct to three significant figures, the :

(a) mean age ; (b) standard deviation ; of the distribution.

Explanation

Assumed mean, A = 19.

Age (years)Mid-age (x)Frequency\(d = x - A\)\(fd\)\(fd^{2}\)
12 - 14136-6-36216
15 - 171610-3-3090
18 - 20193000
21 - 232223618
24 - 262516636
22-54360

(a) \(\bar{x} = A + \frac{\sum fd}{\sum f}\)

= \(19 + \frac{-54}{22}\)

= \(19 - 2.455\)

= \(16.545 \approxeq 16.5\) years.

(b) Standard deviation , \(\sigma = \sqrt{\frac{\sum fd^{2}}{\sum f} - (\frac{\sum fd}{\sum f})}\)

= \(\sqrt{\frac{360}{22} - (\frac{-54}{22})}\)

= \(\sqrt{16.364 - (2.45)^{2}}\)

= \(\sqrt{16.364 - 6.025}\)

= \(\sqrt{10.339}\)

= 3.215 \(\approxeq\) 3.22 years.



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