Chapter 1

Simple algebra and coordinate

geometry
1.1

Learning activity A1.1

Question: Work out the following:
a) (2 + 4) (3 + 7)
b)

1
3

of 12 4 2

c) (1 + 4)/5 (100 98).

Solution:
a) Rules: Brackets take precedence so this is
(6) (10) = 60.
b) Here the of and take precedence and this is
1
of 12 (= 4) minus 4 2 (= 2)
3
i.e. 4 minus 2, i.e. +2.
c) Brackets take precedence so we have
5
2
5
which is 1 2, which is 2.
You should find these really simple. If you are in any doubt at all, go
over the rules again given in page 12 of the subject guide. Work
through these examples again and (even better) go to your old
school arithmetic textbook and try some more!


Statistics 1 Solutions to learning activities

1.2

Learning activity A1.2

Question: Work out the following (use a calculator where
necessary):

a) 16
b) (0.07)2

c) 0.49.

Solution:
a) 16 is 4 4, so the square root of 16 is 4.
b) (0.07)2 = 0.07 0.07 = 0.0049. Be careful with the decimal
points!
c) 0.7 0.7 is 0.49, so the square root of 0.49 is 0.7.
Be careful that you understand the rules for placing decimal points.
When you work on estimation or tests of hypotheses of proportions
you will need this.


1.3

Learning activity A1.3

Question:
a) What is 98% of 200?
b) Give

17
25

as a percentage.

c) What is 25% of

98
144 ?

Solution:
a) The answer is

98
100

200 which is 98 2, or 196.

b) To get a percentage, multiply the given fraction by 100, i.e.

17
17
100 =
4 = 17 4 = 68%.
25
1
So

17
25

can be written as 68%.

98
25
c) 25% of 144
is another way of writing 100

49
288 which is 0.1701 to four decimal places.

98
144

which is

1
4

49
72

or

CHAPTER 1. SIMPLE ALGEBRA AND COORDINATE GEOMETRY

1.4

Learning activity A1.4

Question:
a) | 8 |
b) | (15 9) |.

Solution:
a) This is, simply put, 8.
b) This is the same as | 6 |, which is 6.


1.5

Learning activity A1.5

Question:
a) For which of the following is x > 3? 2, 3, 7, 9.
b) For which is x < 3?
c) For which is x 3?
d) For which is x2 49?

Solution:
a) 7 and 9 are greater than 3.
b) 2 is less than 3.
c) 2 and 3 are less than or equal to 3.
d) If x2 49, then x 7. This is the case when x is 7 or 9.


1.6

Learning activity A1.6

Question:
Given x1 = 3, x2 = 1, x3 = 4, x4 = 6 and x5 = 8, find:
Pi=5
a) i=1 xi
b)

Pi=4
i=3

x2i .

Statistics 1 Solutions to learning activities

Given also that p1 = 1/4, p2 = 1/8, p3 = 1/8, p4 = 1/3 and p5 = 1/6,

find:
Pi=5
c) i=1 pi xi (Hint: write out the pi xi and multiply first)
d)

Pi=5
i=3

pi x2i .

Solution:
a)
i=5
X

xi

= x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5

i=1

= 3+1+4+6+8
= 22.
b)
i=4
X

x2i

= x23 + x24

i=3

= 42 + 62
= 16 + 36
= 52.
c)
i=5
X

pi xi

= p1 x1 + p2 x2 + p3 x3 + p4 x4 + p5 x5

i=1

=
=
=
=
=

1
1
1
1
1
3+ 1+ 4+ 6+ 8
4
8
8
3
6
1
3 1 1
+ + +2+1
4 8 2
3
18 + 3 + 12 + 0 + 8
3+
24
41
3+
24
17
4
or 4.7083 if you prefer to work in decimals.
24

(Note dont forget the times sign takes precedence over the
plus. Check over Activity A1.1 if in any doubt!)
d)
i=5
X

pi x2i

= p3 x23 + p4 x24 + p5 x25

i=3

1
1
1
42 + 62 + 82
8
3
6
1
1
1
=
16 + 36 + 64
8
3
6
2
= 2 + 12 + 10
3
2
= 24 or 24.6667 if you prefer to work in decimals.
3
=

CHAPTER 1. SIMPLE ALGEBRA AND COORDINATE GEOMETRY

Check this carefully if you could not do it yourself first time. Note
that i = 3 and i = 5 mark the beginning and end of the summation
as did i = 3 and i = 4 in Activity A1.6 b).


1.7

Learning activity A1.7

Question:
Sketch the following:
a) y = x + 3
b) y = 3x 2.
You are going to need equations like this for all the material on
regression in Chapter 11.

Solution:
a) Here the straight line graph has a slope of 1 and the line cuts the
y-axis at x = 3 (when x is zero, y is 3).

y
3

-3

b) Here the straight line still has a positive slope of 3 (y increases by

3 when x increases by 1) but the line crosses the y-axis at a minus
value (2).

2/3

-2


Solutions prepared by Dr James Abdey.