An Actuary Wanted to Develop a Model to Predict How $x _ { 1 }$

question 31

Essay

An actuary wanted to develop a model to predict how long individuals will live. After consulting a number of physicians, she collected the age at death (y), the average number of hours of exercise per week ( $x _ { 1 }$ ), the cholesterol level ( $x _ { 2 }$ ), and the number of points by which the individual's blood pressure exceeded the recommended value ( $x _ { 3 }$ ). A random sample of 40 individuals was selected. The computer output of the multiple regression model is shown below:
THE REGRESSION EQUATION IS
ŷ = $55.8 + 1.79 x _ { 1 } - 0.021 x _ { 2 } - 0.016 x _ { 3 }$ $$\begin{array} { | c | c c c | } \hline \text { Predictor } & \text { Coef } & \text { StDev } & \mathrm { T } \\\hline \text { Constant } & 55.8 & 11.8 & 4.729 \\x _ { 1 } & 1.79 & 0.44 & 4.068 \\x _ { 2 } & - 0.021 & 0.011 & - 1.909 \\x _ { 3 } & - 0.016 & 0.014 & - 1.143 \\\hline\end{array}$$ se = 9.47 R2 = 22.5%. $$\begin{array}{l}\text { ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE }\\\begin{array} { | l | c c c c | } \hline \text { Source of Variation } & \mathrm { df } & \text { SS } & \text { MS } & \text { F } \\\hline \text { Regression } & 3 & 936 & 312 & 3.477 \\\text { Error } & 36 & 3230 & 89.722 & \\\hline \text { Total } & 39 & 4166 & & \\\hline\end{array}\end{array}$$ Is there enough evidence at the 10% significance level to infer that the model is useful in predicting length of life?

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Definitions:

Cultural Support

The assistance and encouragement provided by a community or society that shares the same customs, beliefs, and traditions.

Vernix Caseosa

Greasy material that protects the fetal skin from abrasions, chapping, and hardening that can occur from exposure to amniotic fluid.

Fetal Skin

Refers to the skin of a fetus, which undergoes significant development and changes throughout pregnancy.

Abrasions

Wounds caused by scraping or wearing away of the skin, usually superficial and not penetrating deeply into the body.