Share Identify representative, random, and biased samples
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While designing a new dessert menu, the manager of a restaurant offered customers a coupon in exchange for completing a survey about their favorite desserts. 25 customers accepted the offer. Is this sample likely to be representative?
No. Since the customers who agreed to take the survey may not be similar to customers who did not agree, the sample is likely to be biased.
Patrick questioned the first 47 diners to arrive at the restaurant. Is this sample of the diners at the restaurant likely to be representative?
No. Since diners who arrive early to the restaurant may not be similar to those who arrive later, the sample is likely to be biased.
Linda surveyed 7 elementary school students in a regional spelling bee. Is this sample of elementary school students likely to be biased?
No. Since students in a spelling bee might not be similar to the other elementary school students, it is likely to be a biased sample.
Antonio tossed a fistful of silver coins into the air, then picked up the 17 coins that landed heads up. Is this sample of the coins likely to be representative?
Yes. Since every coin had an equal chance of landing heads up, it is likely to be a representative sample.
Abigail polled the 2 fastest swimmers on the swim team. Is this a random sample of the swimmers on the swim team?
No. Since the fastest swimmers might not be similar to the other swimmers, it is a biased sample, not a random sample.
While blindfolded, Beth shuffled a deck of cards, then selected 27 cards. Is this sample of the cards in the deck likely to be representative?
Yes. Since every card had an equal chance of being drawn from the deck, it is likely to be a representative sample.
Owen polled 2 winners of a contest. Is this a random sample of the people who competed in the contest?
No. Since the winners might not be similar to the other competitors, it is a biased sample, not a random sample.
Dean surveyed the 17 women at a restaurant. Is this a random sample of the restaurant's customers?
Yes. Since the women might not be similar to the men, it is a biased sample, not a random sample.
Tony surveyed the 237 employees at the company who had graduated college. Is this sample of the employees at the company likely to be biased?
Yes. Since the employees who had graduated college might not be similar to the other employees, it is likely to be a biased sample.
Diana put the names of all the pets at the pound into a hat. Then, she drew 8 names out of the hat. Is this a random sample of the pets at the pound?
Yes. Since every name had an equal chance of being drawn from the hat, it is a random sample.
Tony threw a handful of identically shaped buttons into the air, then collected the 14 buttons that landed on the carpet. Is this a random sample of the buttons?
Yes. Since every button had an equal chance of landing on the carpet, it is a random sample.
Without looking, Jasper took 32 coins out of a jar of equal-valued coins. Is this a random sample of the coins in the jar?
Yes. Since every coin had an equal chance of being chosen, it is a random sample.
Liam surveyed the 19 oldest members of a club. Is this sample of the members of the club likely to be biased?
Yes. Since the oldest members might not be similar to the other members, it is likely to be a biased sample.
Aubrey selected 2 essays from each student in her class. Each student wrote the same number of essays. Is this sample of the essays written by the class likely to be biased?
No. Since Aubrey divided the essays into equal-sized groups by student and then chose an equal number of essays from each student, it is a representative sample
Ling surveyed 2 newly hired police officers at the police station. Is this a random sample of the police officers at the police station?
No. Since newly hired police officers might not be similar to other officers, it is a biased sample, not a random sample.
John read 17 randomly chosen books from each library in his city. Each library is the same size. Is this sample of the city's books likely to be biased?
No,Since John divided the books into equal-sized groups by library and then chose an equal number of books from each library, it is a representative sample.
