MAT10251 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PROJECT
This project leads you through a statistical analysis of used car price data. The data for this project was obtained from the car sales website www.carsales.com.au between 4 and 11 January 2016 (inclusive).
Part A covers parts of Topic 1, Part B parts of Topics 5 and 6 and Part C parts of Topics 7 to 9.
It is suggested that you work on this project throughout Session 1.

Project Data
The data set provided contains 10 randomly chosen samples of size 125.
To obtain your data
(1) Click on the ‘Project Data’ file. This will download an Excel file.
(2) Select the 5 columns (Year to Price) of data for the sample specified by the last digit of your student ID number.
(3) Copy this into a new Excel file.
There are 10 sample data sets each of 5 columns (Year to Price)
Your sample number matches the last digit of your SCU student ID number. For example, if your student ID number ends in 1 your sample is Sample 1 and you will be analysing used car data for Mazda 3 cars for sale in Queensland in columns G to K.

Project Situation
Your statistical analysis of used car price data is to enable you to answer questions from a relative or friend who is seeking to buy a used car of the make and model specified by your sample and has asked you for information and advice. Your relative or friend is restricting their search to the state they are living in also specified by the sample.
In each part of the project you are required to analyse your sample data in response to given questions and provide a written answer. You can assume that each written answer is a part of a letter or email to your friend or relative.
Project Preparation
You are expected to use Excel, or another spreadsheet or statistical package, when completing the project.
Your written answers presenting findings and conclusions should be considered as a part of a letter or email to a friend or relative. Each written answer should be a word document into which your Excel, or similar, output has been copied.
In addition, your statistical workings for Parts B and C should appear as appendices to your written answers. These should include all necessary steps and appropriate Excel output.
The written answers, with appendices for Parts B and C, should each be submitted as a single word document.
In preparing your appendices you may use one of the following formats:
• Word with Excel output added.
• Handwritten with Excel output added. This will then need to be scanned and added to your word document.
Notes
• You should not need to read beyond the study guide and textbook to complete the project.
• You probably will not need to reference, but if you do, use any consistent referencing style.

Project Submission
• Each part of the project should be presented as a SINGLE Word file with Excel output included.
• The given cover sheets should be used as the first pages of your submitted project and are not part of the page limit.
• DO NOT submit your appendices, which are not part of the page limit, for either part B or C as separate files.
• Also, ensure that the page setup of your submitted document is A4 Portrait, with an appropriate format so that it is easily readable if printed.
• Please name your file
“Family Name_First Name_Part_A/B/C_Campus”
For example; Jayne _Nicola_Part_A_Lismore,

Penalties For
Incorrect Sample
• If you use a sample that does not correspond to the last digit of your student ID number, to be entered on the cover sheet, a maximum of two marks may be deducted, as this causes the marker extra work and frustration.

Incorrect Format
• If the page setup of your submitted Word file is not as required (that is, A4 Portrait, with appropriate format so that it is easily readable if printed) or your project is not submitted as a single Word document a maximum of two marks may be deducted, as this causes the marker extra work and frustration.
• In addition, if your file is not named as requested or the required cover sheets are not included or correctly completed a maximum of two marks may also be deducted, as this can cause the marker extra work and frustration.

MAT10251 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Data Analysis Project – Part A
(Marked out of 10 but worth 5% of final assessment)

Due Week 3 Tuesday 15th March 2016

Value: 5%
Objectives: 2 to 5
Topic: 1
Purpose: To
• introduce you to the project data, questions and Excel,
• use Excel to graph data and calculate summary statistics,
• interpret and communicate Excel results.
Full marks for Part A will be given for successful submission of an acceptable attempt.

Part A Question
Your friend or relative has asked you for information on the price of three and four year old cars of the make and model and in the state specified by your sample. In particular, he/she is interested in the minimum and maximum price, the average price and an estimated price range for a three or four year old used car.

Tasks – Part A Submission
Complete the following tasks
1) Download and save your data.
2) Download the Project Part A cover sheets, name and save this file as
“Family Name_First Name_Part_A_Campus”.
3) Enter your Sample Number on page 2 of the Part A coversheets.
4) Statistical Tasks
Using Price data explore prices of 2012 and 2013 used cars, by using Excel to:
• Construct a frequency histogram or polygon.
• Calculate descriptive statistics.
Hint: The required data for 2012 and 2013 used cars is in the first rows of your sample.
5) Written Answer – Email or Letter
Using the instructions given on page four of the Part A coversheets, introduce your data and the results of your preliminary investigation of prices of three and four year old used cars, of the make and model and in the state specified by your sample.
This should be one to two pages and 300 to 500 words.
Use an appropriate style, without statistical jargon and equations, to clearly communicate your results.
6) Complete Coversheets 1 and 2, save and submit Part A of the project online using Project Part A link in Submit Project by the due date Tuesday 15th March 2016.

Marking Criteria – Part A
Read the marking criteria carefully and consider them when preparing your Part A Submission.
See the marking and feedback sheet, page 3 Part A coversheets, for allocation of marks.
Note: you will use these criteria to self-mark Part A of the project – however, your mark for Part A will be based on successful submission of an acceptable attempt.

Statistical Calculation
• To obtain full marks your graph must be correct, including correct labels on both axes and a title. Marks will be deducted if:
• Graph incorrect (eg, gaps between classes of non-zero frequency in a histogram for continuous data).
• Excel, or similar, is not used.
• Axes incorrectly or not labelled.
• No title.
• Inappropriate classes are used.
• Scale on axes distorts graphs.
• To obtain full marks for descriptive statistics copy the output table of the Descriptive Statistics command in Data Analysis or Descriptive Summary command in PhStat. You may delete unnecessary statistics in this table; you may also include other statistics, for example quartiles.
• Marks will be deducted if this table is incorrect, so check:
• Your sample size.
• Whether you are calculating sample statistics or population parameters.

Written Answer – Letter/Email
• 300 to 500 words and one to two pages – marks will be deducted if this is greatly exceeded.
• To obtain full marks must:
• Be well structured.
• Clearly communicate the results of the Excel output in language appropriate for your audience.
• Include appropriate graph and summary statistics.
• Provide information on average price of three and four year old used cars, how prices vary and any pattern to prices.
• Provide an estimated price range for a three or four year old used car.

• Marks will be deducted if:
• There is little or no comment on, or interpretation of, the Excel output.
• Unnecessary statistical jargon and equations appear.
• It is confusing or not readable.
• It is handwritten.
• For each major spelling and/or grammatical error half a mark will be deducted, up to a maximum of two marks.
• Also up to two marks may be deducted for poor structure and/or presentation.