To calculate the mean number of hours spent on math homework, we can use the following formula for the mean:
\[ \text{Mean} = \frac{\sum (x \cdot f)}{\sum f} \]
where \( x \) is the number of hours and \( f \) is the frequency (number of students).
From the data provided:
- For 1 hour: 8 students
- For 2 hours: 6 students
- For 3 hours: 4 students
- For 4 hours: 2 students
- For 5 hours: 1 student
Now we can calculate:
\[ \sum (x \cdot f) = (1 \cdot 8) + (2 \cdot 6) + (3 \cdot 4) + (4 \cdot 2) + (5 \cdot 1) \] \[ = 8 + 12 + 12 + 8 + 5 = 45 \]
Next, we calculate the total number of students:
\[ \sum f = 8 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 21 \]
Now we can find the mean:
\[ \text{Mean} = \frac{45}{21} \approx 2.14 \]
Thus, the mean number of hours students spent on math homework is 2.14 hours.