Question

In alphabetical order, the six most common last names in the United States in 2018 are Brown, Garcia, Johnson, Jones, Smith, and Williams (United States Census Bureau website). Assume that a sample of 50 individuals with one of these last names provided the following data: 

 

Summarize the data by constructing the following:

1. Relative and percent frequency distributions
2. A bar chart
3. A sorted bar chart
4. A pie chart
5. Based on these data, what are the most common last names? Which type of chart makes this most apparent? 

Answer 1

Part 1:

The given data can be summarized by relative and percent frequency distribution as,

Names	Frequency	Relative frequency	Percent frequency
Brown	7	7/50 = 0.14	14
Garcia	6	8/50 = 0.12	12
Johnson	10	10/50 = 0.2	20
Jones	7	7/50 = 0.14	14
Smith	12	12/50 = 0.24	24
Williams	8	8/50 = 0.16	16
Sum	50	1	100

Part 2:

We construct the bar chart by using the step by step procedure in excel as below:

• Enter the frequency distribution in the excel sheet.
• Select the data
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Select Insert Clustered column chart.

The output will be displayed as below:

Part 3:

We construct the sorted bar chart by using the step by step procedure in excel as below:

• Enter the frequency distribution in the excel sheet.
• Sort the frequency in ascending order.
• Select the data
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Select Clustered column chart

The output will be displayed as below:

Part 4:
We construct the pie chart by using the step by step procedure in excel as below:
• Enter the frequency distribution in the excel sheet.
• Select the data 
•  Go to Insert tab > Charts > Select Insert Pie or Doughnut chart 
The output will be displayed as below:

Part 5:
The most common last names are,
Smith, Johnson, and Williams.
The bar chart and sorted bar chart make it more apparent.

 

Answers can be found in the Explanation section.