The statistics of writing style Numerical data can distinguish different types of writing, and sometimes even individual authors. Here are data on the percent of words of 1 to 15 letters used in articles in Popular science magazine:

(a) Make a histogram of this distribution. Describe its shape, center, and spread.

(b) How does the distribution of lengths of words used in Popular science compare with the similar distribution for Shakespeare’s plays in Exercise 52? Look in particular at short words (2,3, and 4 letters) and very long words (more than 10 letters).

Short Answer

Expert verified

Part (b) Short words (2,3 and 4 letters) are used maximum times.

Part (a)

Step by step solution

01

Part (a) Step 1: Given information

Length123456789101112131415
Percent3.614.818.716.012.58.28.15.94.43.62.10.90.60.40.2
02

Part (a) Step 2: Concept

A histogram is an often used graphing tool. It's used to summarise discrete or continuous data that's measured on an interval scale. It's a popular method for displaying key characteristics of data distribution in a user-friendly manner.

03

Part (a) Step 3: Explanation

The following is a histogram of the percentage of words with 1 to 15 letters:

The form is regular and slightly tilted to the right. Because of the skewness to the right, the majority of words contain letters between 7 and 15, although a few have letters between 7 and 15. It's unimodal, having only one peak at 3 o'clock. The data is centered on 4 letters. There are 14 letters in the spread, ranging from1 to 15. The data has no outliers or extreme values. As a result, a distribution histogram is created.

Shape: regular and skewed towards the right.

Center: 4 letters.

Spread 14 from 1letter to 15 letters.

04

Part (b) Step 1: Explanation

The percentage of words with 1to 15letters as compared to the distribution of word lengths used in Shakespeare's plays, particularly in short words (2,3,and 4letters are used most often). Long words (more than 10letters) are used at rates ranging from 1%to 4%

Length123456789101112131415
Percent3.614.818.71612.58.28.15.94.43.62.10.90.60.40.2

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