Question

Shopping spree The stemplot displays data on the amount spent by 50 shoppers at a grocery store. Note that the values have been rounded to the nearest dollar.

Part (a) What was the smallest amount spent by any of the shoppers?

Part (b) Describe the distribution of amount spent by these 50 shoppers.

Short answer

Part (a) The smallest amount spent ranges from $2.50 to $3.49.

Part (b)

Skewed to the right, with a peak at stem 2, no gaps or outliers, and a median of $28.

The 50 shoppers spent between $2.50 and $93.49 tota

Step-by-step solution

Part (a) Step 1. Given information. 

0	399
1	1345677889
2	000123455668888
3	25699
4	1345579
5	0359
6	1
7	0
8	366
9	3

Part (a) Step 2.  The smallest amount spent by any of the shoppers 

Stem	Leaf
0	399
1	1345677889
2	000123455668888
3	25699
4	1345579
5	0359
6	1
7	0
8	366
9	3

Key: $\overline{)9}\overline{)3}$means that between $92.50 and $93.49 was spent

The value at the top of the stemplot, 013, represents the smallest amount spent, and thus the smallest amount spent is between $2.50 and $3.49 (or approximately $3.00).

As a results: The smallest amount spent ranges from $2.50 to $3.49.

Part (b) Step 1.  The distribution of amount spent by these 50 shoppers. 

Because most of the data values are near the top of the stemplot (corresponding with small values), and a tail of less common data values are near the bottom of the stemplot, the distribution is skewed to the right (corresponding with large values).

The distribution has a peak at stem 2, and the stemplot has no gaps, implying that there are no outliers.

The median appears to be around $28, as it is roughly the middle value of the sort data set.

The 50 shoppers spent anywhere from $2.50 to $93.49.

As a results: Skewed to the right, with a peak at stem 2, no gaps or outliers, and a median of $28.

The 50 shoppers spent between $2.50 and $93.49 total.