A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
B
A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
C
A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
D
A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
E
A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
F
A census surveys the whole population. Is this practical in this context?
A
Population: U.S. employees Survey: Sample, see solution.
B
Population: Students in your math class Survey: Census, see solution.
C
Population: Carrots all over the world Survey: Sample, see solution.
D
Population: Residents in the state Survey: Sample, see solution.
E
Population: Elevator cables Survey: Sample, see solution.
F
Population: Your circle of friends Survey: Census, see solution.
Practice makes perfect
The difference between a census and a sample is that a census surveys the entire population. The population is the group of people which we survey. To get information on the average time it takes U.S. employees to commute to work, we should ask those employees.
Population:& U.S. employees
Since the number of employees in the U.S. is so large, it would not be reasonable to survey all of them. Therefore, a sample should be used.
Population:& U.S. employees
Survey:& sample
To find the average bedtime for students in your math class, we should ask the students in your math class. This is the population for this question.
Population:& Students in Your Math Class
Survey:& Census
The average math class consists of a reasonable number of people to conduct a census, which could also be true in your situation. Remember that in situations where a census can be performed, it will always produce better results than a sample as we do not need a confidence interval.
Population:& Students in Your Math Class
Survey:& Census
To find the exact amount of Vitamin A in an average carrot, we would need to check every carrot on earth. This is our population for this question.
Population:& Carrots all over the world
However, there is no way we can investigate every carrot in the world so a sample is the only survey we can perform in this case.
Population:& Carrots all over the world
Survey:& Sample
To find the public approval rating for the Governor, we would have to ask every person in the state.
Population:& Residents in the State
However, an average population of a state in U.S. is too big to perform a census. We need to crate a sample in this case.
Population:& Residents in the State
Survey:& Sample
To find the average weight an elevator cable can support, we would have to check every elevator cable in the world.
Population:& Elevator Cables
There is no way we can test every cable in the world. Therefore, a sample is needed.
Population:& Elevator Cables
Survey:& Sample
To find our friends' favorite movie, we should survey them on their opinions.
Population:& Your circle of friends
A persons circle of friends is likely small enough to conduct a census instead of a sample. Therefore, like in Part B, a census is more reasonable.
Population:& Your circle of friends
Survey:& Census
