EXAMPLE 9 Populations and samples

For the following scenarios, state whether the data represent a population or a sample.

  1. The seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia
  2. Europe and North America
  3. All of Ludwig van Beethoven's nine symphonies
  4. Beethoven's 5th, 6th, and 9th symphonies

Solution

  1. Because all of the continents are listed, this group represents a population.
  2. Europe and North America represent a subset of the population of all continents and, therefore, represent a sample.
  3. Because all of Beethoven's symphonies are included, this represents a population.
  4. Because the 5th, 6th, and 9th symphonies represent a subset of all of Beethoven's symphonies, this is a sample.

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NOW YOU CAN DO

Exercises 43–45 and 52–57.