Problem 21 - BIG IDEAS MATH Algebra 2: Common Core Student Edition 2015

Question

Golf strokes: \(4,3,4,3,3,2,7,5,3,4\)

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The mean number of golf strokes is 3.8 per round.

Step 1: Add All Numbers

Add all golf strokes together. This gives us \(4+3+4+3+3+2+7+5+3+4 = 38\)

Step 2: Count the Number of Rounds

Count how many rounds of golf were played. In this instance, there are 10 rounds.

Step 3: Calculate the Mean

Divide the total score (from step 1) by the number of rounds (from step 2). So, the calculation is \( \text{Mean} = \frac{38}{10} = 3.8 \)

Key Concepts

Golf Scores

Understanding the concept of golf scores is essential for any golf enthusiast or student trying to master math problems related to averages. Each number in a golf score represents the number of strokes taken during a round of golf. In our example, we have the scores:

• 4
• 3
• 4
• 3
• 3
• 2
• 7
• 5
• 3
• 4

Each of these scores corresponds to individual rounds. The aim could vary depending on the game context, but typically, lower scores are better in golf. Fewer strokes mean efficient play and better performance.

Addition

Addition forms the foundation of many mathematical concepts, including the calculation of averages. Here, addition is used to calculate the total of all your golf scores. When you sum up the individual numbers:

• Start by adding them sequentially: 4 + 3 = 7, 7 + 4 = 11, and so on until all numbers are included.
• The result from repeating this process for all scores is 38.

This step is crucial because it gives you the total number of strokes used, which is necessary for calculating the average score in the upcoming sections.

Division

Having added up all the scores to get a total of 38, division is your next step. Division helps find how these scores spread out over the 10 rounds played. Think of division as an equal sharing feature. You're trying to evenly distribute the 38 strokes over the 10 rounds. In mathematical terms, that means dividing 38 by 10:\[\frac{38}{10} = 3.8\]This operation divides the total score to find out how each round can be averaged, hence giving a clearer performance picture.

Averaging Numbers

To make sense of the numbers and understand how well you performed overall, calculating the mean or average of your golf scores is essential. Here's what averaging numbers involves:

• First, amongst any set of numbers, begin by summing them up to get a total, like we did to get 38 for golf scores.
• Then, count how many numbers or values you have. In this case, it is 10 rounds.
• Finally, use division; divide the total by the count of numbers, like dividing 38 by 10 here, resulting in the average of 3.8. Determining this average helps in understanding your overall performance and identifying consistency through rounds.