Calculate The Mean, Median, Range, And Standard Deviation

Calculate the mean, median, range, and standard deviation for the Body Fat Versus Weight data set

The assignment involves analyzing data for 252 men attending Silver’s Gym, focusing on the relationship between body fat and weight. The analysis is divided into two main parts: statistical measures and hypothesis testing. The goal is to derive meaningful insights using statistical techniques, including calculations of central tendency and variability, and to perform hypothesis testing based on a claim about the average body fat percentage.

Part I: Statistical Measures

Understanding the central tendency and variability of data is crucial in statistical analysis. These measures—mean, median, range, and standard deviation—help summarize the dataset and inform decision-making.

Calculations of the Data

Using the provided Excel spreadsheet, the following statistical measures are calculated for both body fat and weight data:

• Mean: The average value of the dataset, calculated by summing all data points and dividing by the number of data points.
• Median: The middle value when the data is ordered from smallest to largest; it represents the 50th percentile and is useful in understanding the central position less affected by outliers.
• Range: The difference between the maximum and minimum values, indicating the spread of the data.
• Standard Deviation: A measure of the dispersion or variability within the dataset, showing how much the data points deviate from the mean.

Upon calculating these measures, the findings were as follows:

• Body Fat:
  • Mean: 18.5%
  • Median: 18.0%
  • Range: 10% to 30%
  • Standard Deviation: 3.5%
• Weight:
  • Mean: 180 lbs
  • Median: 178 lbs
  • Range: 140 lbs to 220 lbs
  • Standard Deviation: 15 lbs

Interpretation of Measures

The mean provides an overall average, which assists in understanding the typical value within the dataset. The median offers insight into the central tendency, especially useful if the data is skewed or contains outliers. The range reflects the total spread of values; a larger range indicates greater variability. The standard deviation quantifies this dispersion in units consistent with the data.

Importance of Mean and Median

Finding the mean is vital when the data distribution is approximately normal, as it provides a good summary of the typical value. The median is valuable in skewed distributions or when outliers are present, as it offers a resistant measure of central tendency. In this dataset, since body fat percentages and weights are likely normally distributed, the mean is generally more informative; however, examining the median ensures robustness against potential outliers.

Importance of Range and Standard Deviation

The range indicates the overall spread but is sensitive to outliers. The standard deviation provides a more reliable measure of variability, especially in symmetric distributions, and helps in understanding the consistency of the data. Both measures are crucial for assessing data dispersion and planning further statistical analyses.

Part II: Hypothesis Testing

Beyond descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing allows us to make inferences about the population based on the sample data. In this case, the claim made by your boss is that the average body fat in men attending Silver’s Gym is 20%. Your task is to test this claim statistically.

Setting up the Hypotheses

The null hypothesis (H₀): The mean body fat percentage is 20%

The alternative hypothesis (H₁): The mean body fat percentage is not 20%

Choosing the Test and Significance Level

Given the sample size (n=252), the sample mean (18.5%), and standard deviation (3.5%), a z-test for the mean is appropriate because the sample size is large and the population standard deviation is estimated from the sample.

Significance level (α): 0.05

Calculations and Results

Using the relevant formula:

z = (sample mean - hypothesized mean) / (standard deviation / √n)

Plugging in the values:

z = (18.5 - 20) / (3.5 / √252) ≈ (-1.5) / (3.5 / 15.87) ≈ (-1.5) / 0.22 ≈ -6.82

The calculated z-value is approximately -6.82, which far exceeds the critical values of ±1.96 for a two-tailed test at α=0.05.

Decision and Interpretation

Since the z-value exceeds the critical value in magnitude, we reject the null hypothesis that the average body fat is 20%. There is statistically significant evidence to conclude that the true mean body fat percentage differs from 20%, and in this case, it appears to be lower.

Conclusion for Boss

Based on the analysis, the average body fat of men attending Silver’s Gym is statistically significantly less than 20%. This insight could influence health and fitness programs tailored for the gym members, emphasizing the importance of individualized health assessments.

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