Decide which of the variables described is likely to have a normal or near-normal distribution.

a. The number of courses remaining until graduation for the students
in a small liberal arts college
b. The SAT mathematics scores for students in an advanced placement
mathematics class

Are you sure this is a geometry assignment?

SORRY ABOUT THAT.Decide which of the variables described is likely to have a normal or near-normal distribution.

4)

a. The number of courses remaining until graduation for the students
in a small liberal arts college
b. The SAT mathematics scores for students in an advanced placement
mathematics class

To determine which variable is likely to have a normal or near-normal distribution, we need to consider the characteristics of each variable and the factors that affect their distributions.

a. The number of courses remaining until graduation for the students in a small liberal arts college:
This variable is likely to have a skewed distribution. Since students can take varying numbers of courses each semester, the number of courses remaining until graduation will not follow a symmetrical pattern. Some students may take a heavier course load, while others may take a lighter load, leading to a non-normal distribution.

b. The SAT mathematics scores for students in an advanced placement mathematics class:
This variable is more likely to have a normal or near-normal distribution. SAT scores, in general, tend to have a roughly normal distribution because they are designed to measure the overall performance of a large sample of students. Additionally, the advanced placement class focuses on students who excel in mathematics, and their scores are likely to follow a more symmetrical distribution.

To determine the actual distribution of the variables, you can collect data and analyze it using statistical tools such as histograms, normality tests, or graphical methods like q-q plots. These methods will provide you with a better understanding of the shape of the data distribution.