Federal Register:  Electoral College allocation

1. Sampling
The list below shows the 50 states and the number of electoral votes each state has in the presidential election (2000 Census).  Using this listing as a population, complete the following exercises. (Note:  The District of Columbia is allocated 3 votes but is not included in this activity.)

1. ALABAMA - 9                            26. MONTANA - 3
2. ALASKA - 3                                27. NEBRASKA - 5
3. ARIZONA - 10                            28. NEVADA - 5
4. ARKANSAS - 6                          29. NEW HAMPSHIRE - 4
5. CALIFORNIA - 55                      30. NEW JERSEY - 15
6. COLORADO - 9                          31. NEW MEXICO - 5
7. CONNECTICUT - 7                    32. NEW YORK - 31
8. DELAWARE - 3                           33. NORTH CAROLINA - 15
9. FLORIDA - 273                            34.  NORTH DAKOTA - 3
10. GEORGIA - 15                           35.  OHIO - 20
11. HAWAII - 4                                36. OKLAHOMA - 7
12. IDAHO - 4                                  37. OREGON - 7
13. ILLINOIS - 21                            38. PENNSYLVANIA - 21
14. INDIANA - 11                            39. RHODE ISLAND - 4
15. IOWA - 7                                    40. SOUTH CAROLINA - 8
16. KANSAS - 6                               41. SOUTH DAKOTA - 3
17. KENTUCKY - 8                         42. TENNESSEE - 11
18. LOUISIANA - 9                          43. TEXAS - 34
19. MAINE - 4                                   44. UTAH - 5
20. MARYLAND - 10                        45. VERMONT - 3
21. MASSACHUSETTS - 12             46. VIRGINIA - 13
22. MICHIGAN - 17                          47. WEST VIRGINIA - 5
23. MINNESOTA - 10                       48. WASHINGTON - 11
24. MISSISSIPPI - 6                          49. WISCONSIN - 10
25. MISSOURI - 11                           50. WYOMING - 3

a. Select a random sample of 10 states and find the mean number or electoral votes for this sample.  Compare this mean with the population mean.

b. Select a systematic sample of 10 state and compute the mean number of electoral votes for the sample.  Compare this mean with the population mean.

c. Divide the 50 state into five subgroups by geographic location, using a map of the united states.  Each subgroup should include 10 states.  The subgroups should be northeast, southeast, central, northwest, and southwest.  Select two states from each subgroup and find the mean number of electoral votes for the sample.  Compare these means with the population mean.

d. Randomly select one cluster of 10 states and compute the mean number of electoral votes for the sample.  Compare this mean with the population mean.

2. Random Sampling
Use a random number table to simulate the outcomes of a tennis game between two people, Ryan and Tim, with the additional condition that Ryan is twice as good as Tim.   Show the outcome of eight games.

3. Determine whether each of the following are matched pairs or  random (independent) samples.

a. A company has many plants through out the world that produce the same product.  A company official feel theat rearranging the assembly line will increase output.  He selects five plants and records their output for one month.  He then rearranged the assembly lines and again records output for one month.

b. A video to increase drivers awareness of accident prevention is to be tested.  One hundred sixteen year old males are available for the study.  Fifty are randomly selected to view the video.  Number of accidents for the two groups are compared during the six month periods following viewing of the video by the fifty males.

c. A construction engineer wants to compare the time it takes technicians to replace the glass in two different brands of windows ( Brand A and Brand B).  For technicians replace the glass in both brands of windows. A coin os tossed to determine whether the technician replaces Brand A or Brand B first.  The time for each replacement is recorded.

d. Twelve randomly selected measurements of sulfate levels prior to installation of the new pollution control equipment and twelve randomly selected measurements of sulfate levels after installation of pollution control equipment were examined.

e. Twelve locations around a factory were selected at random.  At each location, measurements of sulfate levels prior to installation of new pollution control equipment and measurements of sulfate levels after installation of pollution control equipment were compared.

f. Number of years required for graduation of 13 randomly selected engineering students at university A are compared with the number of years required for graduation of 13 randomly selected engineering students at university B.

g.   Sixteen patients suffering from bulimia were randomly divided into two groups.  One group received an antidepressant and the other group received a placebo.  Number of binged during one week compared.

h. Thirty six people participated in an experiment to determine whether a certain herb lowers blood pressure.  The systolic blood pressure was measured initially and then 90 minutes after ingesting the herb.

i. To determine whether two professors differ significantly in how they grade exams, the admission exams taken by ten applicants to an actuarial science program were graded by both professors.

j. Three hundred patients who successfully completed a program to quit smoking were weighed at the beginning of the program and again one year later to determine whether people who quit smoking really do gain weight.
 
 

4. The following is an excerpt from an Associated Press article in the Provo Daily Herald September 3, 1991.  State three valid criticisms of this study, referenced to the text.

 “The best treatment for women suffering from PMS may be a close as their refrigerator.  A recent Agriculture Department study supports earlier findings that calcium--available in milk, yogurt and cheese--appears to help women deal with the stress and anxiety that can be symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.  Although only 10 women participated in the 5 ½ month USDA study, nine told nutritional experts they were in a better mood before and during their menstrual periods while on a diet that included 1.300 milligrams of calcium daily.”