242 in computer lab Monday, March 24

We will be in the computer lab using the program Minitab for the first 60 or 90 minutes of our class meeting. The lab is in room AA156, on the ground floor downstairs from our classroom.

Here, in Minitab format, are the height, wingspan, etc. data we collected in class recently. I would download this file to the Windows Desktop if I were you.

Minitab is available in the computer lab, and along with our author's problems and datasets, it's on a CD that was bundled with new textbooks. It's also available as a download, free for a 45-day evaluation, from www.minitab.com.

Here, with the kind permission of McGraw-Hill, are the datasets in Minitab format for the whole book, wrapped in a zip file. If you are not familiar with zip files, then you need to see me or someone working in AA155 for help.

In the file Databank.mtp, all variables are stored as text: heaven knows why. Notice the –T in the column heading. What's "fixed" in file Databank_fix.mtp is that quantitative variables were converted using command Data / Change Data Type. I haven't seen other files that need this fix, but I certainly haven't checked all of them.

We need to talk briefly about Minitab project / worksheet structure and File / Save As / Minitab Portable type. I don't know what it is about Portable that seems so crucial, but sometimes it does.

Notice there's a zip within the zip: that's where I left datasets for the book's problems and examples.

A search for "Minitab" on this blog will yield some old handouts for those who would like to explore the graphics capabilities of the program.