Sta-209 (Spring 2025) Homework #1

Directions:

• Submit your assignment via P-web.
• For this assignment only (Homework #1) you may submit any file format (R Script, Word Doc w/ copy-pasted R code, etc.)
  • Future assignments will require you to use R Markdown, so you are encouraged to try using R Markdown on this assignment
• Homework is as individual assignment. It’s okay to check-in with your classmates and mentors, but it is not okay to pass off their work as your own.

Question #1

For this question you’ll use the “2015 Boston Marathon” data set located at the URL:

https://remiller1450.github.io/data/BostonMarathon2015.csv

These data record the demographics, residence, finish time and place, and splits of everyone who finished the race.

• Part A: Write code the loads this data set into R and stores it in a object named marathon_data.
• Part B: Inspect the data using the Environment panel or basic functions (like head(), print(), dim() and/or View()). Afterwards, use an R comment (or plain text if using R Markdown) to provide a brief written statement that includes: what a case represents in this data set, how many cases are present, and how many variables (columns) are present.
• Part C: Use an R function to find the type of the variable Official.Time. Based upon this type, it possible to use the mean() function to find the average finish time without coercion? Briefly explain.
• Part D: Similar to Part C, find the type of the variable Age. Based upon this type, it possible to use the mean() function to find the average age of cases without coercion? Briefly explain.