Probability & Statistics Workbook • P10

Combined Mean and Corrected Standard Deviation

Practise special statistics problems involving combined mean, combined standard deviation, weighted mean and corrected mean with corrected standard deviation.

Quick Method Before You Start

Combined mean is used when two or more groups are joined together. The group sizes must be considered.

Coefficient of variation is useful for comparing variability when means are different.

In correction questions, first recover \(\sum x\) and \(\sum x^2\) from the given mean and standard deviation. Then remove or replace the wrong value.

Formulae Used

\[ \bar{x}=\frac{n_1\bar{x}_1+n_2\bar{x}_2}{n_1+n_2} \]

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{\frac{n_1(\sigma_1^2+d_1^2)+n_2(\sigma_2^2+d_2^2)}{n_1+n_2}} \]

\[ CV=\frac{\text{S.D.}}{\text{Mean}}\times100 \]

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{\frac{\sum x^2}{n}-\bar{x}^{\,2}} \]

Exam habit: For special questions, do not write only calculator answers. Write the formula, identify the values correctly, and then show the substitution.

Question 15: Combined Mean and Standard Deviation

Combined Mean • Combined SD • CV

In two companies A and B engaged in similar type of industry, the average weekly wage and standard deviation are given below. Find which company pays a larger total amount as weekly wages, which company shows greater variability, and find the mean and standard deviation of all workers taken together.

Company A Company B
Average Weekly Wage (Rs) 460 490
Standard Deviation 50 40
No. of wage earners 100 80
Exam Note: Larger average wage and larger total wage are not the same thing. Company B has the larger average wage, but total weekly wage depends on both average wage and number of workers.
Select your answer first.
Correct answer: Company A.
Select your answer first.
Correct answer: Company A.
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(473.33\)
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(48.19\)

Try once before opening the solution

Compare total weekly wages, compare CV, then calculate combined mean and combined SD.

Detailed Step-by-Step Solution

Company A total weekly wages:

\[ 100\times460=46000 \]

Company B total weekly wages:

\[ 80\times490=39200 \]

Therefore, Company A pays a larger total amount as weekly wages.

To compare variability, use coefficient of variation:

\[ CV=\frac{\text{S.D.}}{\text{Mean}}\times100 \]

\[ CV_A=\frac{50}{460}\times100=10.87\% \]

\[ CV_B=\frac{40}{490}\times100=8.16\% \]

Since Company A has the larger CV, Company A shows greater variability.

Combined mean:

\[ \bar{x}=\frac{n_1\bar{x}_1+n_2\bar{x}_2}{n_1+n_2} \]

\[ \bar{x}=\frac{100(460)+80(490)}{100+80} \]

\[ \bar{x}=\frac{85200}{180}=473.33 \]

For combined standard deviation:

\[ d_1=460-473.33=-13.33,\qquad d_2=490-473.33=16.67 \]

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{\frac{n_1(\sigma_1^2+d_1^2)+n_2(\sigma_2^2+d_2^2)}{n_1+n_2}} \]

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{\frac{100(50^2+(-13.33)^2)+80(40^2+16.67^2)}{180}} \]

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{2322.22} \]

\[ \sigma=48.19 \]

Final Answer

Larger total weekly wages: Company A Greater variability: Company A Combined mean \(=473.33\) Combined SD \(=48.19\)

Video Solution

In this video, we explain total wages, CV comparison, combined mean and combined standard deviation.

Question 16: Number of Boys and Girls

Weighted Mean

The mean weight of 100 students in a certain class is 59 kg. The mean weight of boys is 65 kg and that of girls is 50 kg. Find the number of boys and girls in the class.

Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(60\)
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(40\)

Try once before opening the solution

Let \(x\) be the number of boys and \(y\) be the number of girls. Then form two equations.

Detailed Step-by-Step Solution

Let:

\[ x=\text{number of boys} \]

\[ y=\text{number of girls} \]

Since there are 100 students,

\[ x+y=100 \]

Using the given mean weight:

\[ \bar{x}=\frac{\sum fx}{\sum f} \]

\[ 59=\frac{65x+50y}{100} \]

\[ 5900=65x+50y \]

Now solve the two equations:

\[ x+y=100 \]

\[ 65x+50y=5900 \]

From \(x+y=100\),

\[ y=100-x \]

Substitute in \(65x+50y=5900\):

\[ 65x+50(100-x)=5900 \]

\[ 65x+5000-50x=5900 \]

\[ 15x=900 \]

\[ x=60 \]

\[ y=100-60=40 \]

Final Answer

Number of boys \(=60\) Number of girls \(=40\)

Video Solution

In this video, we explain how to form two equations using the number of boys and girls.

Question 17: Corrected Mean and Standard Deviation

Correction • Mean • SD

The mean and S.D. of 20 items is found to be 10 and 2 respectively. At the time of checking it was found that one item 8 was incorrect. Calculate the mean and standard deviation if: (a) the wrong item is omitted, and (b) it is replaced by 12.

Exam Note: First find \(\sum x\) and \(\sum x^2\) from the original mean and S.D. Then adjust them according to whether the wrong item is omitted or replaced.
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(10.11\)
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(2.00\)
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(10.20\)
Enter your answer first.
Correct answer: \(1.99\)

Try once before opening the solution

First recover \(\sum x\) and \(\sum x^2\), then adjust them for omission or replacement.

Detailed Step-by-Step Solution

Given:

\[ n=20,\qquad \bar{x}=10,\qquad \sigma=2 \]

First find \(\sum x\):

\[ \sum x=n\bar{x}=20(10)=200 \]

Using:

\[ \sigma=\sqrt{\frac{\sum x^2}{n}-\bar{x}^{\,2}} \]

\[ 2=\sqrt{\frac{\sum x^2}{20}-10^2} \]

\[ 4=\frac{\sum x^2}{20}-100 \]

\[ \frac{\sum x^2}{20}=104 \]

\[ \sum x^2=2080 \]

(a) If the wrong item \(8\) is omitted:

\[ n'=19 \]

\[ \sum x'=200-8=192 \]

\[ \sum x'^2=2080-8^2=2080-64=2016 \]

\[ \bar{x}'=\frac{192}{19}=10.11 \]

\[ \sigma'=\sqrt{\frac{2016}{19}-(10.11)^2} \]

\[ \sigma'=2.00 \]

(b) If the wrong item \(8\) is replaced by \(12\):

\[ n'=20 \]

\[ \sum x'=200-8+12=204 \]

\[ \sum x'^2=2080-8^2+12^2 \]

\[ \sum x'^2=2080-64+144=2160 \]

\[ \bar{x}'=\frac{204}{20}=10.20 \]

\[ \sigma'=\sqrt{\frac{2160}{20}-(10.20)^2} \]

\[ \sigma'=1.99 \]

Final Answer

If omitted: Mean \(=10.11\), SD \(=2.00\) If replaced by 12: Mean \(=10.20\), SD \(=1.99\)

Video Solution

In this video, we explain how to correct mean and standard deviation when a wrong item is omitted or replaced.
Formulae

Available Formula Sheets

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