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Mathematics Research Project
This project will not only give you an opportunity to review the learning outcomes of the
Statistics Unit, but will also provide you with an opportunity to connect the study and the
analysis of data collection, measures of central tendency, standard deviation, and z-scores
to your own life. The topics and questions are provided as a guide to get you started, but
are not to be considered a finite list. Once you have completed the research and analysis,
the final product will be a presentation, with or without technology, to demonstrate your
understanding to your peers.
Your presentation may take any form, but some examples include: a computer slideshow
presentation, a movie, a poster, or a skit.
Choose one of the four projects outlined below or develop your own project.
Project 1 So You Want to be a Sports Star ...
a) Choose your favourite professional sports team.
b) Collect data on the annual salaries for each of the players on the team.
Be sure to keep track of where you obtained the information, and use multiple sources to
confirm your data.
c) Is the data you collected consistent, or do the numbers change depending on the
source? What may be the reason for the difference in numbers? Is there any bias in the
reporting of the data?
d) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the salaries you have researched.
e) Analyze the salaries of your five favorite players:
• Calculate the z-score for each player.
• What does each z-score represent in the context of this project?
• Do you agree with the ranking, as represented by the z-score, of each player? Do you
think a player should rank higher or lower?
• Identify any changes you would make to the players’ salaries, and then re-calculate
the z-scores for those players you would change.
f) What factors affect how much a player is paid? Do you agree with these factors?
Identify any additional conditions you would add to the salary considerations.
g) Does this team have a salary cap? If so, then what percentage of the salary cap is taken
up by the top 3 players?
h) Assuming the numbers are normally distributed, create and answer three questions
involving confidence integrals, confidence levels, and margin of error that
use your data
i ) Prepare a presentation, with or without technology, to share your research and analysis
with your peers. Your presentation should utilize all the terminology listed in learning
guide 11&12.
Project 2 Your First Vehicle ...
a) Using the internet or print resources, research the cost of purchasing a vehicle
manufactured in the last 8 years. Research approximately 20 vehicles. Be sure to keep
track of where you obtained the information and use multiple sources to
verify your data.
b) Is the data you collected consistent, or do the numbers change depending on where you
collected your research? Why might the numbers be different between sources?
Is there any bias in the reporting of the numbers?
c) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the cost of the vehicles.
d) Calculate the z-score of each of your 5 favorite vehicles from the group.
e) Do you agree with the ranking, as determined by the z-scores?
f) What factors affect the price of the vehicle?
g) Are there any vehicles you feel should cost more or less money? If so, how much
would you be willing to pay for those vehicles? Re-calculate the z-scores for the vehicle
prices that you changed.
h) Which vehicle do you find is the best value for your money? Why?
i ) Assuming the numbers are normally distributed, create and answer three questions
involving confidence integrals, confidence levels, and margin of error that
use your data
j ) Prepare a presentation, with or without technology, to share your research and analysis
with your peers. Your presentation should utilize all the terminology listed in learning
guide 11&12.
Project 3 Off to a Post Secondary Institution ...
a) Identify a program that you are interested in. Research the cost of tuition for the first
year of your program using technology, print materials or help from your counselor.
Include at least 10 post-secondary institutions. Be sure to keep track of where you
obtained the information and use multiple sources to verify your data.
b) Is the data consistent, or different depending on the source? Why might the numbers
be different? Are certain sources biased in their cost estimates?
c) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the tuition costs you researched.
d) What factors influence the tuition charged by a post-secondary institution?
e) Choose the five schools that you would most like to attend. Calculate the z-score for
each of these schools.
f) Do you agree with the ranking, as determined by the z-scores?
g) Are there schools that you believe should cost more or less to attend? If so, how much
would you be willing to pay in tuition? Recalculate the z-scores of any tuition values you
changed.
h) At which school do you find the best value for the tuition charged?
i ) Assuming the numbers are normally distributed, create and answer three questions
involving confidence integrals, confidence levels, and margin of error that
use your data
j ) Prepare a presentation, with or without technology, to share your research and analysis
with your peers. Your presentation should utilize all the terminology listed in learning
guide 11&12.
Project 4 Open Topic
(Historical event, music, theatre, sciences, pop culture, etc)
a) Research a topic of your choice. Collect data on your topic, collecting at least 20 data
values. Be sure to keep track of where you obtained the information and use multiple
sources to verify your data.
b) Is the data you collected consistent, or are the numbers different depending on the
source? Is there any bias present in certain sources?
c) Calculate the mean and standard deviation of the data.
d) Calculate the z-scores of your top 5 choices.
e) What factors affect the data you have collected?
f) Do you agree with the ranking, as determined by the z-scores? If not, what data values
do you feel would be more appropriate? Recalculate those z-scores.
g) Assuming the numbers are normally distributed, create and answer three questions
involving confidence integrals, confidence levels, and margin of error that
use your data
h ) Prepare a presentation, with or without technology, to share your research and
analysis with your peers. Your presentation should utilize all the terminology listed in
learning guide 11&12.