APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL CONCEPTS IN THE

DETERMINATION OF WEIGHT VARIATION IN COIN

SAMPLES
D.B. AGUTO
DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: JANUARY 28, 2016
INSTRUCTORS NAME: MICHELIN ANG

statistical parameters will yield

false results and will increase
the inaccuracy of the statistics
of the experiment.

1. Discuss the significance of

mean, standard deviation, and
confidence limits.

The mean is important because

it is the only measure of central
tendency where the sum of the
deviations of each value from
the mean is always zero. This is
because it includes all values in
the data set in the calculation
(Lund, 2013). The standard
deviation is significant when a
researcher wants to find out
how far the results have
deviated from the mean. (Niles,
2015) Confidence limits allow
you to assess the precision of
the data you collected. (Frost,
2015)

2. What is the importance of

using Grubbs test?

We need to perform the Grubbs

test in order to know whether or
not to remove questionable
data from our set of
observations. Including the
outliers in calculations of the

3. What does the pooled standard

deviation tell us about the
measurements?

The pooled standard deviation

shows the average spread of
the data about their group
mean. This gives the
researchers a general idea of
the precision of the experiment.

4. Compare the statistical

parameters obtained for data
set 1 with those obtained for
data set 2.

The statistical parameters

obtained for data set 2 are
larger than the parameters
obtained for data set 1. This
may be due to the fact that
Sample Nos 2 and 9, although
far from the rest of the samples,
passed the Grubbs test in Data
1

Set 2, increasing the central

tendency of the data set.

5. Enumerate and explain the

three types of experimental
error. Give examples of each
type.

The three types of experimental

error are: systematic, random,
and gross error. The systematic
error is an error due to definite
causes and is reproducible. An
example of this is using the
wrong indicator in a titration
set-up. Random errors are
errors due to uncontrollable
causes, which makes it harder
to identify. The limitation of
equipment used to make
measurements is an example of
a random error. Gross errors
often lead to extreme outliers.
These errors are so serious that
the experiment has to be
repeated. A researchers
carelessness could be an
example of a gross error.

6. What is the normal or Gaussian

distribution. and what are the
requirements for a data set to
have this type of distribution?

Data sets with the Gaussian

distribution follow the Empirical
or The 68-95-99.7% Rule. 68%
of the observations lie within
one standard deviation of the
mean, 95% lie within two
standard deviations of the

mean, and 99.7% lie within

three standard deviations of the
mean. (Narasimhan, 1996)

7. Why do we use forceps in

handling the coins?

We use forceps to avoid

contaminating the coins with
the oils and salts from our
hands. (Riddle, 2013)

REFERENCES
[1] Lund Research.
https://statistics.laerd. com/statisticalguides/measures-central-tendencymean-mode-median.php (accessed
February 1, 2016)
[2] Niles, R. Standard Deviation.
http://www.
robertniles.com/stats/stdev.shtml
(accessed February 1, 2016)
[3] Frost, J. Understanding Hypothesis
Tests: Confidence Intervals and
Confidence Levels.
http://blog.minitab.com/blog/adventur
es-in-statistics/understandinghypothesis-tests%3A-confidence2

intervals-and-confidence-levels
(accessed February 1, 2016)

m/NoNormalDensi/NormalDensity.html
(accessed February 1, 2016)

[4] Narasimhan, B. The Normal

Distribution.
http://statweb.stanford.edu/~naras/js

[5] Riddle, P. A matter of balance:

calibration and use of weighing
instruments. The Biomedical Scientist
2013, p. 273.