Hypothesis: There will be a difference between the average hand size of males to females in a grade 10 science class. The average males hand will be bigger than females

Method:

1. Choose seven male students by pulling their name out of the hat.
2. Using a ruler that measures to the nearest 0.05 cm. Measure the length of                         the first male student’s right hand, by measuring the tip of his middle                         finger down to the end of his palm.
3. Measure the width of the first male student’s right hand, with thumb fully                         extended outwards start from tip of the thumb to the furthest end of palm.
4. Repeat steps two and three with the remaining chosen male students.
5. Calculate the average of the length of the seven grade 10 male students’                         hands.
6. Repeat steps one through five for the female portion of this experiment.

Results:

Results:

First chosen grade 10 female student’s hand measures 17.50 cm ± 0.05 in length, 15.80 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). First grade 10 male student’s hand measures 19.30 cm ± 0.05 in length and 15.50 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Second female student’s hand measures 19.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 15.70 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). Second male student’s hand 19.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 17.30 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Third female student’s hand measures 18.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 15.00 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). Third male student’s hand 17.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 15.00 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Fourth female student’s hand measures 17.00 cm ± 0.05 in length and 15.00 in width (Table 1). Fourth male student’s hand 21.00 cm ± 0.05 in length and 17.30 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Fifth female student’s hand measures 18.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 14.00 in width (Table 1). Fifth male student’s hand 23.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 17.50 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Sixth female student’s hand measures 16.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 12.30 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). Sixth male student’s hand 17.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 16.60 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2). Seventh female student’s hand measures 18.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 14.00 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). Seventh male student’s hand 21.00 cm ± 0.05 in length, 16.30 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2).  The average of the grade 10 female student’s hand is 17.64 cm ± 0.05 in length and 14.54 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 1). Compared to the grade 10 male student’s hand is 19.61 cm ± 0.05 in length and 16.50 cm ± 0.05 in width (Table 2).

Conclusion:

There is a difference between the average hand size of males and females in a grade 10 science class. The average male’s hand is bigger than females. Based on the data in table 1, the average female’s hand length is 17.64 cm ± 0.05. Based on the data in table 2 the average male’s hand length is 19.61 cm ± 0.05. Both measurements have a difference of 1.97 cm ± 0.05, having the male’s hand length larger. Based on the data in table 1, the average female’s hand width is

14.54 cm ± 0.05 and, based on the data in table 2 the average male’s hand width is 16.50 cm ± 0.05. Both measurements have a difference of 1.96cm ± 0.05 having the male’s hand width larger than females’. The source of error is the measuring the width of each person’s right hand.

A person may have extended their thumb in a different angle than others. A person may have extended their thumb too forcefully or loosely.

Table 1: The right hand measurements of a grade 10 science female students.

Table 1: The right hand measurements of a grade 10 science male students.