Chapter 7, Problem 24PT2

a.

To determine

To check: If the provided study is an experimental study or an observational study.

Answer to Problem 24PT2

Experimental study

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The boxplot and output are:

  

A study in which an experimenter or researchers controls the condition is known as the experimental study. In this case, the experimental study is having the full control over which are going into which plot of the land.

Thus, the provided study is an experimental study.

b.

To determine

To find: The distribution that has the larger mean using the provided figure.

Explanation of Solution

From the provided figures, it is clear that the more skewness is contained by the control plant groups. It is known that mean easily gets affected by the skewness. The distribution that is skewed to the left is containing the smaller value thus it would reduce the mean. Thus, it could be concluded that the mean of the cicada plants is larger.

c.

To determine

To explain: If the data is supporting the belief that dead cicadas could be served as fertilizer.

Explanation of Solution

From the provided figures and numerical summaries of both the groups, it is known that the the median for cicada and control groups are same, that is 0.25. Since, the median for both the groups is same. Thus, the data is not supporting the belief that dead cicadas could be served as fertilizer.