Two fertilizers are applied to randomly selected potato plants. After several weeks, the potatoes are weighed. The weights in kilograms are as follows. Which fertilizer is generally more effective?

Fertilizer A: 27, 20, 16, 18, 22, 19, 23, 21, 17, 19

Fertilizer B: 28, 19, 18, 21, 24, 20, 25, 27, 29, 21 (1 point)

• Fertilizers A and B are both ineffective, because there is no difference in the ranges of the weights of the potatoes.

• Fertilizer B is generally more effective, because the mean and median weights of the potatoes that were treated with it are higher.

• Fertilizers A and B are equally effective, because the ranges of the weights of the potatoes are the same.

• Fertilizer A is generally more effective, because the mean and median weights of the potatoes treated with it are higher.

1 answer

To determine which fertilizer is generally more effective, we can compare the mean and median weights of the potatoes treated with each fertilizer.

Fertilizer A: Mean = (27 + 20 + 16 + 18 + 22 + 19 + 23 + 21 + 17 + 19) / 10 = 20.2
Median = the middle value when the weights are arranged in ascending order = 20

Fertilizer B: Mean = (28 + 19 + 18 + 21 + 24 + 20 + 25 + 27 + 29 + 21) / 10 = 23.2
Median = the middle value when the weights are arranged in ascending order = 21

From the calculations above, we can see that the mean and median weights for the potatoes treated with Fertilizer B are higher than those treated with Fertilizer A. Therefore, the answer is: Fertilizer B is generally more effective, because the mean and median weights of the potatoes treated with it are higher.