Laundry statistics

According to Procter & Gamble, 35 billion loads of laundry are run in the United States each year, Every second, 1,100 loads are started. Statistics show that one person in the United States generates a quarter of a ton of dirty clothing each year. Americans appear to be spending more time doing laundry than they did 40 to manufactures innovations in this area. In the United States, the average washing machine uses about 16 gallons of water. In Europe, the figure is about 4 gallons. The average wash cycle of an American years ago. Today, the average American woman spends seven to nine hours a week on laundry. However, industry research shows that the result is dirtier laundry than in other developed countries. Various companies market new and improved versions of washers and detergents. Yet, Americans seem to be resistant wash is about 35 minutes compared to 90 minutes in Europe. Americans prefer top loading machines because they do not have to bend over, and the top loading machines are larger. Europeans use the smaller front-loading machines because of smaller living spaces.

Managerial and Statistical Questions

Virtually all of the statistics cited here are gleaned from studies or surveys.

1. Suppose a study of laundry usage is done in 50 U.S. households that contain washers and dryers. Water
measurements are taken for the number of gallons of water used by each washing machine in completing a cycle. The following data are the number of gallons used by each washing machine during the washing cycle. Summarize the data so that study findings can be reported. 15 17 16 15 16 17 18 15 14 15 16 16 17 16 15 15 17 14 15 16 16 17 14 15 12 15 16 14 14 16 15 13 16 17 17 15 16 16 16 14 17 16 17 14 16 13 16 15 16 15 2. 3. The average wash cycle for an American wash is 35 minutes. Suppose the standard deviation of a wash cycle for an American wash is 5 minutes. Within what range of time do most American wash cycles fall? Is the amount of laundry done by a household each year related in some way to the household income? Suppose eight households of two adults and two children are randomly chosen for a study. Over a year period, a record is kept of the weight of clothing washed by each household, and their annual household income is ascertained. From the following study data, determine whether a relationship exists between a households income and the amount of laundry done (in weight).
Amount of laundry
(Weight in ibs.)

Household Income
($1,000s)

______________________________________________________________________________

1,210 875 1,890 1,450 2,040 1,330 660 1,490 1,950

42 31 60 68 110 45 56 72 93

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