For each of the following eight exercises, identify: a. the population, b. the sample, c. the parameter, d. the statistic, e. the variable, and f. the data. Give examples where appropriate.

a. A fitness center is interested in the mean amount of time a client exercises in the center each week.

b. A cardiologist is interested in the mean recovery period of her patients who have had heart attacks.

c. A politician is interested in the proportion of voters in his district who think he is doing a good job.

d. Political pollsters may be interested in the proportion of people who will vote for a particular cause.

Use the following information to answer the next three exercises: A Lake Tahoe Community College instructor is interested in the mean number of days Lake Tahoe Community College math students are absent from class during a quarter.

What is the population she is interested in?

1. all Lake Tahoe Community College students
2. all Lake Tahoe Community College English students
3. all Lake Tahoe Community College students in her classes
4. all Lake Tahoe Community College math students

The instructor's sample produces a mean number of days absent of 3.5 days. This value is an example of a:

1. parameter.
2. data.
3. statistic.
4. variable.

For the following exercises, identify the type of data that would be used to describe a response (quantitative discrete, quantitative continuous, or qualitative), and give an example of the data.

a. percent of body fat

b. time in line to buy groceries

c. most-watched television show

d. distance to the closest movie theatre

e. number of competing computer spreadsheet software packages