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Question 2.154 Are geography journals worth their cost? In Geoforum (Vol. 37, Nov. 2006), Simon Fraser
University professor Nicholas Blomley assessed whether the price of a geography journal is correlated
with quality. He collected pricing data (cost for a 1-year subscription, in U.S. dollars) for a sample of 28
geography journals. In addition to cost, three other variables were measured: journal impact factor (JIF),
defined as the average number of times articles from the journal have been cited; number of citations
for a journal over the past five years; and relative price index (RPI), a measure developed by economists.
[ Note: A journal with an RPI less than 1.25 is considered a “good value.”] The data for the 28 geography
journals are saved in the GEOJRNL file.
a. Construct a scatterplot for the variables JIF and cost. Do you detect a trend?
b. Construct a scatterplot for the variables number of cites and cost. Do you detect a trend?
c. Construct a scatterplot for the variables RPI and cost. Do you detect a trend?

Journal Cost ($) JIF Cites RPI

J. Econ. Geogr. 468 3.139 207 1.16
Prog. Hum. Geog. 624 2.943 544 0.77
T. I. Brit. Geogr. 499 2.388 249 1.11
Econ. Geogr. 90 2.325 173 0.30
Ann Assoc. Am. Geogr. 698 2.115 377 0.93
Antipode 717 1.922 333 0.96
Reg. Stud 1312 1.652 445 1.49
Environ. Plann. A 1297 1.622 773 0.91
Environ. Plann. D 479 1.591 297 0.99
Geoforum 1118 1.560 298 1.58
Area 242 1.475 215 0.53
Polit Geogr. 1099 1.316 282 1.92
Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci. 1733 1.234 240 3.42
Landscape Urban Plan 1619 1.204 446 1.56
Singapore J. Trop Geo. 197 1.029 62 1.13
Aust. Geogr 345 0.947 72 1.83
Eurasian. Geogr. Econ. 499 0.780 62 1.99
Urban Geogr. 530 0.667 135 1.81
J. Hist. Geogr. 388 0.661 96 1.44
Tijdschr. Econ. Soc., Ge 343 0.518 99 1.00
Cult. Geogr. 538 0.500 24 NA
Pap. Reg. Sci. 397 0.481 89 1.39
Can. Geogr-Geogr. Can. 253 0.429 74 1.05
J. Geogr. Higher Educ. 1115 0.413 79 4.33
Cartogr. J. 266 0.295 18 3.11
Geogr. Anal. 223 0.857 81 0.94
Appl. Geogr. 646 0.853 74 3.38
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Answer 2.154 (a)

SCATTERPLOT FOR THE VARIABLES JIF AND COST

3.5

2.5

2
JIF

1.5

0.5

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Cost ($)

(Detect no trend)

(b)

SCATTERPLOT FOR THE VARIABLES NUMBER OF

CITES AND COST
900
800
700
600
500
Cites

400
300
200
100
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Cost

(Detect no trend)
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(c)

SCATTERPLOT FOR THE VARIABLES RPI AND COST

5
4.5
4
3.5
3
RIP

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Cost

(Detect no trend)

Question 2.94 The following is a sample of 25 measurements. The data are saved in the LM2_94 file.
7 6 6 11 8 9 11 9 10 8 7 7 5 9 10 7 7 7 7 9 12 10 10 8 6
a. Compute 𝑥̅ , 𝑠 2 , and s for this sample.
b. Count the number of measurements in the intervals ̅𝑥 ±s, 𝑥̅ ±2s, and 𝑥̅ ±3s. Express each count as
a percentage of the total number of measurements.
c. Compare the percentages found in part b with the percentages given by the Empirical rule and
Chebyshev’s rule.
d. Calculate the range and use it to obtain a rough approximation for s. Does the result compare
favorably with the actual value for s found in part a?

Answer 2.94 (a)

𝒙 𝒙𝟐
7 49
6 36
6 36
11 121
8 64
9 81
10 100
8 64
7 49
7 49
5 25
9 81
10 100
8 64
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7 49
7 49
5 25
9 81
10 100
7 49
7 49
7 49
7 49
9 81
12 144
10 100
10 100
8 64
6 36
∑ 𝒙 =206 ∑ 𝒙𝟐 = 1778

Mean 𝑥̅ = 8.24
∑𝑛𝑖=1(𝑥 2 ) – (𝑠𝑖=1
𝑛
𝑥𝑖 )
2
𝑠 = ---------------------------
n-1
(206)2
1778−
25
= 24
44450−42436
= 25𝑥24
𝑠 2 = 3.36
S = √3.36 = 1.83
(a) 𝑥̅ = 8.24, 𝑠 2 = 3.36, s = 1.83
(b) (𝑥̅ + 𝑠) (𝑥̅ − 𝑠) = (8.24 + 1.83, 8.24 - 1.83)
= (10.07, 6.41) -----------------------------------------------(i)
18 of 25 are within one standard deviation ≈ 72% of the sample measurements.
(𝑥̅ + 25, 𝑥̅ − 25) = (8024+3.66,8.24-3.66)
= (11.9, 4.58)
24 out of 25 are within two standard deviation of 𝑥̅ ≈ 96% -------------------- (ii)
(𝑥̅ − 35, 𝑥̅ + 35) = (8.24-5.49, 8024+5.49)
= (2.75, 13.74)
All the times within the three-standard deviation of 𝑥̅ = 100% ----------------(iii)
(c) Empirical Rule
From (i)
72% = Approximately 68% will fall in
(𝑥̅ − 5, 𝑥̅ + 5)
From (ii)
96% = Approximately 95% will fall in
(𝑥̅ − 25, 𝑥̅ + 25)
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From (iii)
100% + Approximately 99.7% will fall in
(𝑥̅ − 35, 𝑥̅ + 35)
Thus, They Satisfied empirical rule

Chebyshev’s Rule
From the result of “b”
72%, 96%, 100%
(i) 72% of the measurements fall in within one Std. Deviation (𝑥̅ − 𝑠. 𝑥̅ + 𝑠)
3 8
(ii) For 96% & 100% Here the K-value is greater than 1(𝐾>1) , we can expect at least 4 and 9
of the measurement fall between two and three Standard deviation.
(d) Calculate Range =
𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐿𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Range = 6
And
𝐻.𝑉−𝐿.𝑉
(R) = 4
12−5 12−5
R= = 1.16 R= = 1.75
6 4

Question 2.103 Velocity of Winchester bullets. The American Rifleman (June 1993) reported on the
velocity of ammunition fired from the FEG P9R pistol, a 9-mm gun manufactured in Hungary. Field tests
revealed that Winchester bullets fired from the pistol had a mean velocity (at 15 feet) of 936 feet per
second and a standard deviation of 10 feet per second. Tests were also conducted with Uzi and Black
Hills ammunition.
a. Describe the velocity distribution of Winchester bullets fired from the FEG P9R pistol.
b. A bullet whose brand is unknown is fired from the FEG P9R pistol. Suppose the velocity (at 15 feet) of
the bullet is 1,000 feet per second. Is the bullet likely to be manufactured by Winchester? Explain.

Answer 2.103 Mean (𝜇) or (x) =936

Standard Deviation (s) = 10
a) Here we are having samples
The distribution can be found using
Chebyshev’s Rule:
3
At least 4 of the measurement will fall within two standard deviations (𝑥̅ − 2𝑠, 𝑥̅ + 2𝑠)
𝑥̅ ± 2𝑠 = 936 ± 2(10)
𝑥̅ ± 2𝑠 = 956
𝑥̅ − 2𝑠 = 916
3
At least 4 of the data will fall within three standard deviations (956,916)

Or
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8
At least 9 of the measurement will fall within three standard deviations ((𝑥̅ − 3𝑠, 𝑥̅ + 3𝑠)
(𝑥̅ + 3𝑠, 𝑥̅ − 3𝑠)= (936+3(10), 936-3(10))
=(966, 906)

From the above solution (a) the man velocity is 966 from the interval (966,906) according to
Chebyshev’s rule the answer is “NO”.

Question 2.123 GPAs of students. At one university, the students are given z -scores at the end of each
semester, rather than the traditional GPAs. The mean and standard deviation of all students’
cumulative GPAs, on which the z -scores are based, are 2.7 and .5, respectively.
a. Translate each of the following z -scores to corresponding GPA scores: z = 2.0, z = -1.0, z = .5,
z = -2.5.
b. Students with z -scores below _1.6 are put on probation. What is the corresponding robationary GPA?
c. The president of the university wishes to graduate the top 16% of the students with cum laude honors
and the top 2.5% with summa cum laude honors. Where (approximately) should the limits be set in
terms of z -scores? In terms of GPAs? What assumption, if any, did you make about the distribution of
the GPAs at the university?

Answer 2.123
Mean (𝜇) = 2.7
Standard Deviation (𝜎) = 0.5
(a) Translate z-scores into GPA.
𝑧1 = 2.0, 𝑧2 = −1.0, 𝑧3 = 0.5, 𝑧4 = −2.5

𝑥−𝜇 𝑥−𝑥̅
For population, Z= or Z=
𝜎 𝑠
𝑥1 −𝑥̅
𝑧1 = 𝑠

𝑥1 −2.7
2.0 = 0.5

𝑥1 = 3.7

𝑥2 −𝑥̅
𝑧2 = 𝑠

𝑥1 −2.7
-1.0 = 0.5

𝑥1 = 2.2

𝑥3 −𝑥̅
𝑧3 = 𝑠

𝑥3 −2.7
0.5 = 0.5
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𝑥3 = 2.95

𝑥4 −𝑥̅
𝑧4 = 𝑠

𝑥4 −2.7
-1.0 = 0.5

𝑥4 = 1.45

(b) Z-scores with below -1.6 are put on probation.

𝑥𝑐 −𝑥̅
𝑧𝑐 =
𝑠

𝑥𝑐 −2.7
-1.6 = 0.5

𝑥𝑐 = 1.9
GPA=1.9

(c) Percentage of students with “cum laude” = 16% higher

Percentage of students with “summa cum laude” = 2.5%

The limit for Z-scores will be 1.0±2.0

The GPA’s for Z-scores = 3.2 and 3.7

The distribution of the GPA’s at the university are mound shoed and symmetric to each other.