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Introductory Statistics

Section B.4 Distributions

SAT and ACT score distributions
The SAT score data comes from the 2018 distribution, which is provided at College Board Report. The ACT score data is available at ACT Report. We also acknowledge that the actual ACT score distribution is not nearly normal. However, since the topic is very accessible, we decided to keep the context and examples.
Male heights
The distribution is based on the USDA Food Commodity Intake Database.
possum
The distribution parameters are based on a sample of possums from Australia and New Guinea. The original source of this data is as follows. Lindenmayer DB, et al. 1995. Morphological variation among colonies of the mountain brushtail possum, Trichosurus caninus Ogilby (Phalangeridae: Marsupiala). Australian Journal of Zoology 43: 449-458.
Exceeding insurance deductible
These statistics were made up but are possible values one might observe for low-deductible plans.
Smoking friends
Unfortunately, we don’t currently have additional information on the source for the 30% statistic, so don’t consider this one as fact since we cannot verify it was from a reputable source.
US smoking rate
The 15% smoking rate in the US figure is close to the value from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which reports a value of 14% as of the 2017 estimate: CDC Report
Football kicker
This example was made up.
Heart attack admissions
This example was made up, though the heart attack admissions are realistic for some hospitals.
ami_occurrences
This is a simulated data set but resembles actual AMI data for New York City based on typical AMI incidence rates.