Question: Parameter Versus Statistic In each of the following statements, identify the boldface number as the value of a population parameter or a sample statistic.
a. A half-ton pickup truck is designed to safely carry a maximum of 1000 pounds. The Department of Transportation is concerned that drivers are hauling much heavier loads. The State Police randomly stopped 50 pickup trucks on an interstate highway and carefully weighed the contents in the truck bed. The mean weight was 1037 pounds.
b. A toy manufacturer issued a recall on a small wooden toy car because the wheels could break off and pose a choking hazard for small children. The proportion of buyers who took advantage of the recall was reported to be 0.45.
c. A recent study indicated that more people today are rising before 6:00 a.m. each weekday to prepare for work and to help children get ready for school. In a random sample of
500 adults, 42% said they get up each weekday before 6:00 a.m.
d. In a random sample of dentists, 80% recommended a certain product to help whiten teeth.
e. During a recent winter, the month of January was particularly cold. A power company in Pennsylvania reported that the mean number of kilowatts used by each customer during January was 1346.