Back to homeMathematics · High School Year 1 · Change subject
Start for free
Notes

Exercises: Measures of position

Practice★☆☆
The number of goals scored by a handball team in their last 9 matches was: $24, 28, 21, 30, 25, 28, 22, 27, 26$. Calculate the lower quartile ($Q_1$), the median ($Me$)…

The number of goals scored by a handball team in their last 9 matches was: $24, 28, 21, 30, 25, 28, 22, 27, 26$. Calculate the lower quartile ($Q_1$), the median ($Me$) and the upper quartile ($Q_3$) of these data.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
The battery life, in hours, of 10 cell phones after a full charge is: $14, 18, 12, 15, 19, 11, 16, 15, 13, 17$. Determine the median and the quartiles $Q_1$ and $Q_3$ of…

The battery life, in hours, of 10 cell phones after a full charge is: $14, 18, 12, 15, 19, 11, 16, 15, 13, 17$. Determine the median and the quartiles $Q_1$ and $Q_3$ of the battery life.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
The following box plot represents the prices, in pesos, of tickets for various concerts in a city during the summer. Identify the minimum price, the maximum price, the…

The following box plot represents the prices, in pesos, of tickets for various concerts in a city during the summer. Identify the minimum price, the maximum price, the median and the quartiles $Q_1$ and $Q_3$.

Price ($) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Solve
Practice★☆☆
The number of pages read in a day by a group of 15 students is: $12, 20, 8, 15, 30, 25, 10, 18, 22, 14, 35, 28, 16, 24, 19$. Find the percentile $60$ ($P_{60}$) and…

The number of pages read in a day by a group of 15 students is: $12, 20, 8, 15, 30, 25, 10, 18, 22, 14, 35, 28, 16, 24, 19$. Find the percentile $60$ ($P_{60}$) and interpret its meaning in the context of the problem.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
In a survey carried out on 20 families about the number of pets they have at home, the following results were obtained: 0 pets: 6 families 1 pet: 8 families 2 pets: 4…

In a survey carried out on 20 families about the number of pets they have at home, the following results were obtained:

  • 0 pets: 6 families

  • 1 pet: 8 families

  • 2 pets: 4 families

  • 3 pets: 2 families

Calculate the median of the number of pets.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
The 25 students in a class were asked how many days a week they play sport. The results are shown in the table: | Days | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |…

The 25 students in a class were asked how many days a week they play sport. The results are shown in the table:

Days 0 1 2 3 4 5
Students 3 5 7 6 2 2

Determine the lower and upper quartiles of this distribution.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
At the annual medical check-up, the paediatrician tells a child's parents that his height is at the percentile $85$ ($P_{85}$) for his age. Explain in detail what this…

At the annual medical check-up, the paediatrician tells a child's parents that his height is at the percentile $85$ ($P_{85}$) for his age. Explain in detail what this statistical value means in relation to other children of his age.

Solve
Practice★☆☆
The maximum temperatures recorded in a city over 12 consecutive spring days were, in degrees Celsius: $18, 20, 22, 19, 21, 24, 25, 23, 20, 19, 26, 22$. Calculate the…

The maximum temperatures recorded in a city over 12 consecutive spring days were, in degrees Celsius: $18, 20, 22, 19, 21, 24, 25, 23, 20, 19, 26, 22$. Calculate the interquartile range (difference between the upper and lower quartiles) of the temperatures.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The time, in minutes, that a group of 40 teenagers spend per day on social media has been grouped in the following table: | Time (min) | $[30, 60)$ | $[60, 90)$ |…

The time, in minutes, that a group of 40 teenagers spend per day on social media has been grouped in the following table:

Time (min) $[30, 60)$ $[60, 90)$ $[90, 120)$ $[120, 150)$ $[150, 180)$
Frequency 4 10 14 8 4

Identify the median class and calculate the exact value of the median using the linear interpolation formula.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The following cumulative frequency polygon shows the distribution of monthly salaries, in pesos, of the 50 employees of a tech company. From the graph, estimate…

The following cumulative frequency polygon shows the distribution of monthly salaries, in pesos, of the 50 employees of a tech company. From the graph, estimate approximately the value of the median ($Me$), the lower quartile ($Q_1$), and the upper quartile ($Q_3$).

Salary ($) Fi 20 000 24 000 28 000 32 000 36 000 40 000 0 10 20 30 40 50
Solve
Practice★★☆
The shoe sizes of the 30 players in a basketball club are distributed according to the following table: | Size | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |…

The shoe sizes of the 30 players in a basketball club are distributed according to the following table:

Size 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Frequency 2 4 7 8 5 3 1

Calculate the percentiles $P_{20}$ and $P_{80}$ of the distribution and interpret the results obtained in the context of the problem.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The attached box plot represents the lifespan, in hours, of a sample of 200 LED light bulbs of a certain brand. Answer the following questions, justifying your answers:…

The attached box plot represents the lifespan, in hours, of a sample of 200 LED light bulbs of a certain brand. Answer the following questions, justifying your answers:

  1. a) What percentage of light bulbs last more than $1500$ hours?
  2. b) Between which values is the central $50\%$ of the distribution located?
  3. c) How many light bulbs exactly lasted less than $1200$ hours?
Lifespan (h) 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400
Solve
Practice★★☆
The following box plots show the marks obtained in a Science exam by two different classes, A and B. a) Which class has a greater dispersion in the central $50\%$ of its…

The following box plots show the marks obtained in a Science exam by two different classes, A and B.

  1. a) Which class has a greater dispersion in the central $50\%$ of its marks?
  2. b) In which class is the mark that marks the boundary of the lowest $75\%$ of marks higher?
  3. c) Which of the two classes do you consider to have had a more consistent performance overall? Justify your answer.
Mark 0 2 4 6 8 10 A B
Solve
Practice★★☆
The distance, in kilometers, traveled daily by 50 employees to get to their workplace is distributed as follows: | Distance (km) | $[0, 5)$ | $[5, 10)$ | $[10, 15)$ |…

The distance, in kilometers, traveled daily by 50 employees to get to their workplace is distributed as follows:

Distance (km) $[0, 5)$ $[5, 10)$ $[10, 15)$ $[15, 20)$ $[20, 25)$
Employees 12 18 10 6 4

Calculate the percentile $90$ ($P_{90}$) using the linear interpolation formula and explain what information this value provides to the company for planning parking spaces or transportation subsidies.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The weight, in grams, of 60 apples harvested in an orchard has been tabulated in intervals: | Weight (g) | $[120, 140)$ | $[140, 160)$ | $[160, 180)$ | $[180, 200)$ |…

The weight, in grams, of 60 apples harvested in an orchard has been tabulated in intervals:

Weight (g) $[120, 140)$ $[140, 160)$ $[160, 180)$ $[180, 200)$ $[200, 220)$
Apples 5 15 25 10 5

Calculate the interquartile range of the weights of the apples using linear interpolation to find $Q_1$ and $Q_3$ beforehand.

Solve
Practice★★☆
The ages of a group of 6 friends are: $14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18$. A new friend joins the group. Determine what age this new member must be so that the median age of the…

The ages of a group of 6 friends are: $14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18$. A new friend joins the group. Determine what age this new member must be so that the median age of the whole group becomes exactly $16$ years.

Solve
Practice★★★
On a music app, the ratings (from 1 to 5 stars) given by a group of users have the following distribution: | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |---|---|---|---|---|---| |…

On a music app, the ratings (from 1 to 5 stars) given by a group of users have the following distribution:

Rating 1 2 3 4 5
Users 4 $x$ 12 15 9

It is known that the median of the ratings is $3.5$ stars. Determine the value of the unknown frequency $x$, reasoning your answer, and then calculate the lower quartile ($Q_1$) of the distribution.

Solve
Practice★★★
The monthly rainfall, in mm, recorded in a region over several years is grouped in the following table: | Rainfall (mm) | $[10, 30)$ | $[30, 50)$ | $[50, 70)$ |…

The monthly rainfall, in mm, recorded in a region over several years is grouped in the following table:

Rainfall (mm) $[10, 30)$ $[30, 50)$ $[50, 70)$ $[70, 90)$ $[90, 110)$
Months 8 15 22 10 5

Find the value of $k$ such that the percentile $P_k$ is exactly $65$ mm. What percentage of months had less rainfall than that amount?

Solve
Practice★★★
The following graph represents the cumulative frequency polygon of the charging time, in minutes, of the battery of 40 electric vehicles. From the graph, reconstruct the…

The following graph represents the cumulative frequency polygon of the charging time, in minutes, of the battery of 40 electric vehicles. From the graph, reconstruct the absolute frequency table by intervals and calculate analytically the upper quartile ($Q_3$). Compare the analytical result with the value observed directly on the graph.

Time (min) Fi 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 10 20 30 40
Solve
Practice★★★
An electronics shop has a price list for 20 models of headphones. It is known that the lower quartile of the prices is $600$ pesos, the median is $900$ pesos and the…

An electronics shop has a price list for 20 models of headphones. It is known that the lower quartile of the prices is $600$ pesos, the median is $900$ pesos and the upper quartile is $1\,200$ pesos. For Black Friday week, the shop applies a $20\%$ discount to all headphones and, in addition, deducts an extra $100$ pesos at the till. Determine what the new values of $Q_1$, $Me$ and $Q_3$ will be after applying the promotion, justifying your answer mathematically.

Solve
Practice★★★
The reaction times, in milliseconds, of 15 professional gamers in a video game are: $210, 245, 215, 230, 220, 250, 215, 225, 240, 235, 218, 222, 260, 228, 232$.…

The reaction times, in milliseconds, of 15 professional gamers in a video game are: $210, 245, 215, 230, 220, 250, 215, 225, 240, 235, 218, 222, 260, 228, 232$.

Calculate the five-number summary (minimum, $Q_1$, median, $Q_3$, maximum) for this group. If an amateur player has a box plot whose quartiles are $Q_1 = 240$ and $Q_3 = 280$, reason statistically whether it is possible to state that more than $25\%$ of professional gamers have worse (higher) reaction times than the fastest $25\%$ of amateur players.

Solve
Practice★★★
The test scores of 6 students are integers from 1 to 10. It is known that the arithmetic mean is $6.5$, the median is $6.5$, the mode is $7$ (and is unique), and the…

The test scores of 6 students are integers from 1 to 10. It is known that the arithmetic mean is $6.5$, the median is $6.5$, the mode is $7$ (and is unique), and the first quartile ($Q_1$) is $5$. Reconstruct the exact scores of the 6 students, explaining step by step the reasoning followed.

Solve
Practice★★★
The lifespan, in thousands of kilometers, of two brands of tires, X and Y, has been studied. For brand X: | Lifespan (thousand km) | $[30, 40)$ | $[40, 50)$ | $[50, 60)$…

The lifespan, in thousands of kilometers, of two brands of tires, X and Y, has been studied.

For brand X:

Lifespan (thousand km) $[30, 40)$ $[40, 50)$ $[50, 60)$ $[60, 70)$
Tires 10 25 15 0

For brand Y:

Lifespan (thousand km) $[30, 40)$ $[40, 50)$ $[50, 60)$ $[60, 70)$
Tires 5 15 20 10

Calculate the interquartile range of both brands and determine which of the two offers a more consistent lifespan (less spread out in the central $50\%$).

Solve
Practice★★★
The distribution of monthly income, in hundreds of pesos, of a residential neighborhood is grouped in the following table: | Income | $[200, 300)$ | $[300, 400)$ |…

The distribution of monthly income, in hundreds of pesos, of a residential neighborhood is grouped in the following table:

Income $[200, 300)$ $[300, 400)$ $[400, 500)$ $[500, 600)$ $[600, 800)$
Families 15 35 40 20 10

Calculate the first decile ($D_1$) and the ninth decile ($D_9$). Subsequently, find the ratio $\frac{D_9}{D_1}$ and explain what this quotient indicates about economic inequality in the neighborhood.

Solve