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Statistics for Lawyers
Problem Set # 2– Due /04
Name_________________________________(Please Print)
1. Garrison Keillor says that all the children in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, are above
average. If he means above the average for Lake Wobegon, that’s amusing because we
all know that half of a list is always below average. Right?
Ans.__________________________________________________________________________
2. In a set of data (A) the algebraic sum of the differences from the mean is what value? (B)
true or false: the sum of the squared differences from the mean is less than from any other
value. (C) What sum of differences does the median minimize?
Ans.
(A)_____________________(B)________________________(C)________________________
3. To gather data on hospital days stayed annually by patients suffering from Pluginsky’s
reflex, Medicare regulators have taken a random sample of 5 hospital admissions for such
patients. The number of hospital days stayed for the five patients was, respectively, 3, 2,
5, 3, and 11. The total annual number of admissions for Pluginsky’s reflex is 100. (A)
Compute the (i) mean, (ii) median, and (iii) geometric mean number of hospital days
stayed for these data. (B) Compute an unbiased and consistent estimate of the total annual
number of days stayed for Pluginsky’s reflex.
Ans.(A)(i)_____________(ii)____________(iii)______________(B)______________________
4. In computing a “guideline” number of days of hospital stay allowed for Pluginsky’s reflex
for reimbursement purposes, what measure of central location of the sample data should
Medicare regulators use and why?
Ans.__________________________________________________________________________

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5. Three judges changed their method of selecting jurors to reduce impaneling times. Judge
A took 100 minutes with the old method and reduced his time by 10% with the new
method. For Judge B the figures were 150 minutes and 15%. For Judge C the figures
were 250 minutes and 25%. (A) What is the simple (unweighted) average percentage
reduction in impaneling times for the judges? (B)What is the weighted average (weighted
by the baseline impaneling times)? (C) What is the average impaneling time for judges (i)
under the old method? (ii) under the new method? and (iii) the percentage reduction in
such average times?
Ans. (A)_______________________________(B)_____________________________________
(C)(i)______________________(ii)_________________________(iii)_____________________
End of Problem Set # 2