Results and discussion of Homework 1

Ten students went out and measured the height of the Billiken statue between Cupples house and the old rec building. The results were:

Plotting the results on a graph brings out a couple of observations:

First, Matt O. and Mike's measurements seem abnormally low compared to everyone else's. These are called outliers--they are quite obviously separated from the rest of the group. The decision whether or not to throw these two points out (i.e., not consider them in subsequent calculations) is an important one. It is good practice to at least ask yourself what might be causing the outliers. They may be a clue to some interesting phenomenon. In this case though, the reason for these outliers is clear: Matt and Mike told me that they had measured the Billiken not from the ground, but from the seat of the Billiken's pants. So, we can rest easy and delete those two measurements from further consideration.

Second, those that did measure the proper thing still got variable results. What IS the height of the statue then? What doe we do with these measurements?

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