Stat 1000: Tips as you prepare for the Final Exam

Published: Thu, 04/20/17

Here are some tips as you prepare for the Final Exam
  • First, make sure you have read this message instructing you on my revised 5 steps on testing hypotheses and the proper way to study Lesson 9 in my book:
    Stat 1000: My suggestions about how to study my Lesson 9
  • Do also take note of this email with various handouts I have provided to help you sort out the various kinds of problems and formulas you use and when:
    Stat 1000: Some handy summary handouts for Units 6 to 11
  • Do the long answer section FIRST on the final exam.  Make sure you have looked at all the practice long answer questions on the practice exams (note that I have a solutions and audio offer for these below).  Topics to be especially ready for as long answer (these are just my opinion; I have no inside information):
    • Hypothesis Testing! There are usually two separate long answer questions where you will have to do all 5 steps of a hypothesis test.  They will also probably have you do a confidence interval, too.  Any two of the possible three
      • Hypothesis for the mean, μ, where sigma is given (use z)
      • Hypothesis for the mean, μ, where sigma is NOT given (use t with df= n-1)
      • Hypothesis for the proportion, p, where you will use z.
    • A Probability question where you will use either a Two-Way Table or a Venn Diagram to set it up and solve questions, as I teach in Lesson 5 of my book.  There was also a good example in Assignment 3 (links below).
    • There is always a long answer question that could have been on the midterm.  The most common one is a Regression and Correlation problem.  They will usually give you the least-squares regression equation already computed (say y^=20-15x) and they will either give you r or r-squared.  Watch for the phrase "the variation in y explained by the regression with x."  That is talking about r-squared!  For example, if they say 81% of the variation in [blank] is explained by the regression with [blank], they are saying r-squared= 81% = 0.81.  So, all you need do is square root it to get r.  However, never forget about the sign for r!  If the line is falling, or if the slope is negative, then r is negative.  Your calculator won't tell you that.  Square root of 0.81 is 0.9.  You must decide if r=0.9 or if r= -0.9 based on the information you are given.  Otherwise, they will ask you to make a prediction, and compute a residual.  Another thing they ask, usually, is for an interpretation of the slope.  Never forgot, the slope tells you how much y increases or decreases (if negative) as x increases by ones.
  • Never stop to think on a Multiple-Choice Question.  If you don't understand it, guess, and move on.  If you do understand it, but think it will take too long, guess and move on.  Come back to the tough ones only after you have completed the exam.  The most important thing is that you gave yourself a chance to answer all the questions you do understand.
  • Never do a multiple-choice question TWICE!  If you know you are wrong because your answer is not one of the choices, too bad! Guess, pick the closest, and move on.  Never waste time trying to figure out what went wrong.  You have other questions to do!  Come back to it with fresh eyes after you have completed the exam.
  • Best wishes and STUDY HARD!
Did you miss my Tips for Assignment 1? Click here.
The department posted SOLUTIONS for Assignment 1 (these are not my solutions). Click here.
Did you miss my Tips for Assignment 2? Click here.
The department posted SOLUTIONS for Assignment 2 (these are not my solutions). Click here.
Did you miss my Tips for Assignment 3? Click here.
The department posted SOLUTIONS for Assignment 3 (these are not my solutions). Click here.
Did you miss Assignment 4? Click here.
The department posted SOLUTIONS for Assignment 4 (these are not my solutions). Click here.