Assignment

Question 1

Adverse possession is a means for a person to obtain your property if they meet all of the elements. Should a squatter get your land? Why or why not? What is the statutory length of time in your state that the squatter needs to "possess" your land in order to take ownership of it? Is this amount of time long enough, too short, etc? Why?

Question 2

In a test of a weight loss program, weights of 40 subjects are recorded before and after the program. Assume that the before/after weights result in r = 0.876.

Is there sufficient evidence to support a claim of a linear correlation between before/after weights?

Does the value of r indicate that the program is effective in reducing weight? Why or why not?

Question 3

The environmental controversy for this week revolves around the use of paper or plastic bags, and whether the consumer should have to pay for them.

Plastic bags are thought to harm the environment, and thus raise several different issues. Along with this issue comes the "precautionary principle." This principle states that all new chemicals and technologies should be assumed to be harmful until proven otherwise and that all commercial products that are suspected of being harmful must be removed from the market until studies can demonstrate that they are safe.
dvocates of the principle argue that when dealing with chemicals and technologies, it is better to be safe than sorry. Critics reply that nothing is absolutely safe and that the precautionary principle is unrealistic and would seriously hinder the development of needed drugs, pesticides and other products. Furthermore, the costs of thoroughly testing all controversial chemicals and technologies to prove their "safety" would be prohibitive.

What do you think of these statements? With whom do you agree or disagree and why?