D. Gevaa/ Chemistry 26.

1 Page | 1
(2017)
APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL CONCEPTS IN THE
DETERMINATION OF WEIGHT VARIATION IN SAMPLES
D. Gevaa1
1
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman,
Quezon City 1101
Performed 25 January 2017; Submitted 01 February 2017

Results and Discussion

In dealing with numerical results, it is essential to assess both the accuracy and precision
of the data at hand. In experiment one, different data sets were compared and assessed
using basic statistical concepts [2].

Weighing by difference was used to measure the weight of every individual 25-centavo
coin. Weighing by difference measures the mass of an object by repetitive weighings. As
a coin is removed from the analytical balance, with the use of forceps, the total mass is
decreased. The difference in the two masses represents the mass of the coin that was
taken out of the analytical balance, hence its called weighing by difference [1].

Grubbs test was used to confirm if a suspected value, within the data collected, is an
outlier or not. For both data sets, sample four (4) is the highest value while sample one
(1) is the lowest value for data set one, and sample ten (10) is the lowest value for data
set two. After assessing the suspected values, sample four (4) for both data sets had the
highest difference with the data set mean in both data sets.

If the calculated grubbs test value for sample four (4) is greater than the expected
grubbs value, then sample four (4) is an outlier. The suspected outlier, X4 = 3.7709, is
rejected since Gexp, n=6 = 1.9705 > G95%, n=6 = 1.8871 for data set one [2]. The same can
be concluded for data set two.

Table 1 below shows the result of the Grubbs test upon using values with the highest
difference to the data set mean.
Table 1. Grubbs Test
Data Suspect Conclusi
Gtab Gexp
Set Values on
1.887 1.970
H:3.7709 Reject
1 1 5
L:3.5454 Retain
2.290 2.686
H:3.7709 Reject
2 0 5
L:3.5444 Retain

While table 2 below shows the results of calculated statistical values for each data set.

Table 2. Reported Values

Data
Set
x s RSD R RR CL
3.608 0.0824 0.2255 62.49 3.60850.08
1 22.844
5 5 0 2 65
3.596 0.0649 0.2265 62.97 3.59650.04
2 18.050
5 2 0 8 639

1. Give the significance of Grubbs test.

Grubbs test checks distributed data for outliers. The Grubbs test always checks
the value which shows the largest absolute deviated from the computed mean.
 D. Gevaa/ Chemistry 26.1 Page | 2
(2017)
Upon certain conditions, an outlier can be removed from the data set because the
presence of an outlier may cause extreme deviations from the results at hand [3].
2. Give the importance of mean and standard deviation.
The mean is the sum of all the values in a data set divided by total number
of values in the set. It provides the best estimate of the true value within the
data set. The standard deviation measure the precision of the data. It calculates
how close the values are with respect to the calculated mean [4].
3. Give the significance of the confidence interval.
The confidence interval is an expression stating that the true mean is likely
to lie within a certain distance in a specified interval of values. This is the area
where data collected should most likely occur and is a way to identify outlying
values in the data set [2].
4. How do the statistics calculated from data set 1 differ from those obtained from data
set 2?
For both data sets, the same outlier was calculated thus in their statistical
values, which are summarized in table 2, do not differ greatly except for the
values of the standard deviation, s, and relative standard deviation, RSD, which
are both based on the mean and standard deviation of their respective data sets.

References

[1] Chesney, Dr. David. Weighing By Difference. 1st ed. Web. 30 Jan. 2017.

[2] Institute of Chemistry. Chem 26.1: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Manual. University
of the Philippines Diliman. 2017. Print.

[3] Lohninger, H. Grubbs Outlier Test. Grubbs Outlier Test. N.p., 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 30
Jan. 2017
[4] Skoog, D., & West, D. (1996).Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (7th ed.). Fort
Worth: Saunders College Pub.