EXERCISE #2: Reporting with Numbers

Please refer to the “Math for Journalists” section in Inside Reporting (Ch. 4, p. 84-85) for the information you will need to complete these exercises. You’ll need to review the segments on calculating percentages and figuring the mean and median (p. 84), as well as the “idea file” bullet points (p. 85) on how to present numbers.

 

1) A local college releases figures showing that its total budget is $120 million. Of that total, $80 million comes from the state, $6 million from student tuition, and the remaining $34 million from fees, grants and gifts. 

 

* Figure the percentage of the college’s budget that comes from each source.

-The state was 33% of the budget

-The Student tuition was 9.5% of the budget

The Fees,grants, and gifts was 71% of the budget

* Identify the significance of each funding source (the most vs. the least, etc.).

* Using plain words, instead of numbers, explain the proportion of funding that comes from different sources. Say it in the way you think would make it most easily understood.

- The local college released figures showing that it’s total budget was 33% from the state, 9.5% from the student tuition, and fees, grants, and gifts comprised the rest of the 71%.

 

2) Your editor assigns you to do a story about prison sentences handed down in cases of aggravated assault. He gives you the following figures from an anti-crime group that is lobbying for tougher sentencing guidelines. The cases represent the people convicted for aggravated assault in San Jose in one month in 2006.

 

* Calculate the average prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault, taking care to convert some of the terms to figures that will compare properly (months vs. years).

-18 months

* Calculate the media prison term for people convicted of aggravated assault.

-1 yer

* Explain why the average or median figure is the most accurate description of prison terms.

- Because everyone has close to or the same term except for one, so the average is bale to show people that the average person is going to get about 18 months in prison.

 

Name        Sentence

Donald Lee    1 year prison, 2 years probation

Richard Smith    1 year prison, 1 year probation

Wesley Mitchell    14 months prison, 1 year probation

Mary Jones    1 year prison, 1 year probation

Juan Rodriguez    1 year prison, 2 years probation

Harold Rothstein    8 months prison, 1 year probation

Michael Reese    7 years prison, 5 years probation

 

3) The state legislature is considering exempting restaurant food sales from the sales tax in the same way grocery sales are exempt.

 

* First, find out the state sales tax.

-.0825

* Then determine and explain how much fast-food patrons who pay $5 per meal would save in a year if they eat out once a week.

-$9.90

* Explain how much people would save if they spend $20 per meal once a week for a year.

-$39.60