Measures of the Spread of the Data · Exercise 22

Scientists are studying a particular disease. They found that countries that have the highest rates of people who have ever been diagnosed with this disease range from 11.4 percent to 74.6 percent.

$$\begin{array}{cc}\text{Percentage of Population with Disease}& \text{Number of Countries}\\ \text{11.4–20.45}& \text{29}\\ \text{20.45–29.45}& \text{13}\\ \text{29.45–38.45}& \text{4}\\ \text{38.45–47.45}& \text{0}\\ \text{47.45–56.45}& \text{2}\\ \text{56.45–65.45}& \text{1}\\ \text{65.45–74.45}& \text{0}\\ \text{74.45–83.45}& \text{1}\end{array}$$
What is the best estimate of the average percentage of people with the disease for these countries? What is the standard deviation for the listed rates? The United States has an average disease rate of 33.9 percent. Is this rate above average or below? How unusual is the U.S. obesity rate compared to the average rate? Explain.

OpenStax, Statistics · §2.7 Measures of the Spread of the Data · Exercise 22