Chapter 3, Problem 1SE

Earnings A sociologist says, “Typically, men in the United States still earn more than women.” What does this statement mean? (Pick the best choice.)

a. All men make more than all women in the United States.

b. All U.S. women’s salaries are less varied than all men’s salaries.

c. The center of the distribution of salaries for U.S. men is greater than the center for women.

d. The highest-paid people in the United States are men.

To determine

Identify the best choice among the four options that gives the best explanation for the statement, “Typically, men in the United States still earn more than women.”

Answer to Problem 1SE

The statement that gives the best explanation for the provided statement is option (c), “The center of the distribution of salaries for U.S. men is greater than the center for women.”

Explanation of Solution

Four statements giving the meaning of the statement, “Typically men in united states are earning more than women” are given.

Reasons for correct answer:

According to the statement in option (c), the center of the distribution of salaries for U.S. men is greater than that for women. As the center of the distribution is the median, it can be said that the median salary of men in U.S. is more than that of women. The median determines a typical observation. So, it can also be said that typically, the women in United States earn less than men.

Hence, the statement that gives the best explanation for the provided statement is option (c), “The center of the distribution of salaries for U.S. men is greater than the center for women.”

Reasons for incorrect answer:

The sociologist statement means that, a typical man’s salary in U.S. is greater than a typical woman. But it does not mean that all men have greater salaries than all women in U.S.

Hence, option (a) is incorrect.

According to the sociologist statement, it just conveys that, typically, men in U.S. earn more than women. There is no information regarding the variation of the salaries among men and women.

Hence, option (b) is incorrect.

The provided statement of a sociologist says only about the typical salary of men and women or the center of the distribution of salaries of men and women. It does not say about the highest pay. The highest paid people in U.S. can either be a men or women, which cannot be decided using the provided statement.

Hence, option (d) is incorrect.