Question

you wish to estimate the average cholesterol levels of patients two days after a heart attack. to estimate this average (mean), you collect data from 28 heart patients. match the following words to the correct definition below.
variable
statistic
parameter
sample
individual
population
a. the average (mean) cholesterol level of all heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
b. the average (mean) cholesterol level of 28 heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
c. the set of cholesterol levels of all heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
d. cholesterol level
e. the set of cholesterol levels of 28 heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
f. a heart patient two days after they had a heart attack

Explanation:

• Variable: A characteristic that varies, here cholesterol level (d).
• Statistic: A measure from a sample, so mean of 28 patients (b).
• Parameter: A measure from a population, mean of all heart patients (a).
• Sample: A subset of population, 28 patients' cholesterol levels (e).
• Individual: A single element, a heart patient (f).
• Population: Entire group, all heart patients' cholesterol levels (c).

Answer:

• Variable: d. Cholesterol level
• Statistic: b. The average (mean) cholesterol level of 28 heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
• Parameter: a. The average (mean) cholesterol level of all heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
• Sample: e. The set of cholesterol levels of 28 heart patients two days after they had a heart attack
• Individual: f. A heart patient two days after they had a heart attack
• Population: c. The set of cholesterol levels of all heart patients two days after they had a heart attack