Question

The characteristics of check teeth (e.g., molars) can provide anthropologists with information on the dietary habits of extinct mammals. The check teeth of an extinct primate species was the subject of research reported in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Vol. 142, 2010). A total of 18 check teeth extracted from skulls discovered in western Wyoming were analyzed. Each tooth was classified according to degree of wear (unworn, slight, light-moderate, moderate, moderate-heavy, or heavy). The 18 measurements are listed here.

Data on Degree of Wear
Unknown	Slight
Unknown	Slight
Unknown	Heavy
Moderate	Unknown
Slight	Light-moderate
Unknown	Light-moderate
Moderate-heavy	Moderate
Moderate	Unworn
Slight	Unknown

a. Identify the variable measured in the study and its type (qualitative and quantitative)

b. Form frequency distribution.

c. Calculate the relative frequency for each wear category

d. Identify the degree of wear category that occurred most often in the sample of 18 check teeth.

Answer 1

(a)

(i) the variable measured in the study : degree of wear in check teeth extracted from skulls discovered in western Wyoming

(ii) its type : qualitative

(b)

Frequency Distribution is got as follows:

Degree of wear (x)	Frequency (f)
Unknown	6
Unworn	1
Slight	4
Light - moderate	2
Moderate	3
Moderate - heavy	1
Heavy	1
Total	18

(c)

Relative Frequency Distribution is got as follows:

Degree of wear (x)	Relative Frequency (f)
Unknown	6/18 = 0.3333
Unworn	1/18 = 0.0556
Slight	4/18 = 0.2222
Light - moderate	2/18 = 0.1111
Moderate	3/18 =0.1667
Moderate - heavy	1/18 = 0.0556
Heavy	1/18 = 0.0556
Total	1.0000

(d)

the degree of wear category that occurred most often in the sample of 18 check teeth. = Unknown,

because Unknown occurs the maximum number of times.