- Calculate missing math and English preference counts for each grade based on the provided totals.
- 9th grade: \(M_9=23, E_9=40\).
- 10th grade: \(M_{10}=18, E_{10}=8\).
- 11th grade: \(M_{11}=14, E_{11}=15\).
- 12th grade: \(M_{12}=35, E_{12}=32\).
- The true statements are:
- \(\boxed{\text{Fourteen eleventh graders prefer math and eight tenth graders prefer English.}}\)
- \(\boxed{\text{Twenty-three ninth graders and thirty-five twelfth graders prefer math.}}\)
Explanation
- Calculate Missing Values in the Table
To find the number of students in each grade who prefer math or English, we use the fact that the sum of students preferring math and English in each grade equals the total number of students in that grade. Let \(M_g\) and \(E_g\) be the number of students in grade \(g\) who prefer math and English, respectively. The data provided is as follows:
- 9th grade: \(M_9 + E_9 = 63\). We are given \(E_9 = 40\), so \(M_9 = 63 - 40 = 23\).
- 10th grade: \(M_{10} + E_{10} = 26\). We are given \(M_{10} = 18\), so \(E_{10} = 26 - 18 = 8\).
- 11th grade: \(M_{11} + E_{11} = 29\). We are given \(E_{11} = 15\), so \(M_{11} = 29 - 15 = 14\).
- 12th grade: \(M_{12} + E_{12} = 67\). We are given \(E_{12} = 32\), so \(M_{12} = 67 - 32 = 35\).
We can verify the total number of students preferring math: \(M_9 + M_{10} + M_{11} + M_{12} = 23 + 18 + 14 + 35 = 90\), which matches the provided total. Similarly, the English total is \(40 + 8 + 15 + 32 = 95\), which also matches.
- Evaluating the Statements
Now we evaluate each of the given statements:
- "Twenty-three ninth graders and fifteen eleventh graders prefer math." Since \(M_9 = 23\) and \(M_{11} = 14\), this statement is false.
- "Fourteen eleventh graders prefer math and eight tenth graders prefer English." Since \(M_{11} = 14\) and \(E_{10} = 8\), this statement is true.
- "Thirty-five twelfth graders prefer math and nine tenth graders prefer English." Since \(M_{12} = 35\) and \(E_{10} = 8\), this statement is false (the English count for 10th graders is 8, not 9).
- "Twenty-three ninth graders and thirty-five twelfth graders prefer math." Since \(M_9 = 23\) and \(M_{12} = 35\), this statement is true.
- "Eighteen tenth graders prefer English and fourteen eleventh graders prefer math." Since \(E_{10} = 8\) and \(M_{11} = 14\), this statement is false (the English count for 10th graders is 8, not 18).
Examples
Surveys are essential in education for understanding student engagement and tailoring curricula to meet their needs. By calculating missing data from such surveys, school administrators can identify trends in student interests—like determining which grades show a stronger affinity for math or English. This data-driven approach helps in resource allocation, such as scheduling more math electives or providing additional language support where needed, ultimately fostering a more balanced and effective learning environment for all students.