A contractor records the areas, in square feet, of a small sample of houses in a neighborhood to determine data about the neighborhood. The areas are:

[tex]\[ 2,400 ; 1,750 ; 1,900 ; 2,500 ; 2,250 ; 2,100 \][/tex]

Which of the following represents the numerator in the calculation of variance and standard deviation?

[tex]\[
\begin{array}{l}
(225)^2 + (-425)^2 + (-275)^2 + (325)^2 + (75)^2 + (-75)^2 = 423,750 \\
(650)^2 + (-150)^2 + (-600)^2 + (250)^2 + (150)^2 + (-300)^2 = 980,000 \\
(250)^2 + (-400)^2 + (-250)^2 + (350)^2 + (100)^2 + (-50)^2 = 420,000
\end{array}
\][/tex]



Answer :

To determine the correct numerator for the calculation of variance and standard deviation, let's follow these steps:

1. Calculate the mean of the areas:

The areas given are:
[tex]\( 2400, 1750, 1900, 2500, 2250, 2100 \)[/tex]

The mean [tex]\(\mu\)[/tex] is calculated as:

[tex]\[ \mu = \frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i}{n} \][/tex]

Where [tex]\( \sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i \)[/tex] is the sum of all areas, and [tex]\( n \)[/tex] is the number of areas.

Sum of areas:

[tex]\[ 2400 + 1750 + 1900 + 2500 + 2250 + 2100 = 12900 \][/tex]

Number of areas [tex]\( n \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ n = 6 \][/tex]

Mean [tex]\(\mu\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ \mu = \frac{12900}{6} = 2150 \][/tex]

2. Calculate the squared differences from the mean (each area [tex]\( x_i \)[/tex] minus the mean [tex]\(\mu\)[/tex]), and then sum these squared differences to get the numerator for the variance calculation:

For each area, calculate the difference from the mean, square it, and then add up these squared differences:

[tex]\[ \begin{align*} (2400 - 2150)^2 & = (250)^2 = 62500 \\ (1750 - 2150)^2 & = (-400)^2 = 160000 \\ (1900 - 2150)^2 & = (-250)^2 = 62500 \\ (2500 - 2150)^2 & = (350)^2 = 122500 \\ (2250 - 2150)^2 & = (100)^2 = 10000 \\ (2100 - 2150)^2 & = (-50)^2 = 2500 \\ \end{align*} \][/tex]

Sum of the squared differences (numerator):

[tex]\[ 62500 + 160000 + 62500 + 122500 + 10000 + 2500 = 420000 \][/tex]

Therefore, the correct representation of the numerator in the calculation of variance and standard deviation is:

[tex]\[ (250)^2 + (-400)^2 + (-250)^2 + (350)^2 + (100)^2 + (-50)^2 = 420,000 \][/tex]

Therefore, the correct option is:

[tex]\[ (250)^2+(-400)^2+(-250)^2+(350)^2+(100)^2+(-50)^2=420,000 \][/tex]