Question 5.49

19. A male nursing home patient has his pulse taken every day. His pulse readings (beats per minute) over a 1-month period appear below.

72 56 56 68 78 72 70 70 60 72 68 74
76 64 70 62 74 70 72 74 72 78 76 74
72 68 70 72 68 74 70
  1. Make a stemplot of the pulse data. Expand the stem into five (for digits 0 and 1, 2 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9).
  2. Determine the mean, median, and mode for these data. Be sure to include units in your answers.
  3. Based on these data, which measure(s)—the mean, median, or mode—best describe(s) the man’s typical pulse rate? Explain your reasoning.

19.

(a)

image

A11

(b) ;

(c) The median or mode of 72 beats/min best describes a "typical" pulse rate for this man. There are a few days when the man's pulse rate was very low. These low values tend to pull the mean down.