PROBLEM NO.

3: AVERAGING, CORRELATING, AND SORTING

3.1 Overview and Problem Statement

A study evaluates the quantities and composition of residential solid waste generated in
a particular city at houses [9]. Table 3 presents the preliminary survey results of the study.

Table 3: Quantities of residential solid waste in a city

Total waste Number of Average

Residence
generated from persons per generated rate
No.
residence (kg) residence (kg per capita per day)
1 29.7 3 0.71
2 137.6 6 1.64
3 43.34 7 0.44
4 34.75 3 0.88
5 184.4 7 1.88
6 64.5 4 1.15
7 160.7 7 1.64
8 86.6 2 3.10
9 119.2 2 4.26
10 136.2 6 1.62
11 134.1 4 2.39
12 76.9 2 2.75
13 43.2 3 1.02
14 85.5 6 1.01
15 129.0 2 4.60
16 104.2 3 2.48
17 122.0 5 1.74
18 108.9 3 2.59
19 100.8 4 1.80
20 102.9 3 2.45
21 37.15 2 1.32
22 21.39 2 0.51
23 118.3 7 1.21
24 18.77 2 0.67
25 54.0 4 0.96
Table 4 summarizes the socio-economic data for residents participating in the main
sampling survey. The percentages of each socio-economic category are High-income at
13%, Middle-income at 70%, and Low-income at 17%.

Table 4: Socio-economic survey data

Number of Annual Number of Annual

Residence Residence
persons per rental rate persons per rental rate
No. No.
residence (Dh.)* residence (Dh.)*
1 6 15,000 21 6 56,000
2 5 12,000 22 3 62,000
3 2 25,000 23 6 35,000
4 3 12,000 24 2 52,000
5 3 21,000 25 4 62,000
6 2 20,000 26 4 48,000
7 7 12,000 27 8 40,000
8 3 32,000 28 3 60,000
9 5 28,000 29 4 46,000
10 5 44,000 30 5 35,000
11 4 50,000 31 4 30,000
12 3 35,000 32 5 36,000
13 6 42,000 33 3 45,000
14 3 60,000 34 8 60,000
15 4 45,000 35 4 70,000
16 4 52,000 36 5 120,000
17 8 50,000 37 5 Owner
18 5 40,000 38 9 100,000
19 3 60,000 39 8 70,000
20 8 28,000 40 7 120,000

Figure 4 presents the bar chart showing the average generation rate of solid waste for
families with different income levels participating in the main survey.

Figure 4: Bar chart for average generation rate of solid waste of every residence.
The problem-solving focus on the following:

(1) Determining the average waste generation per house using Table 3.
(2) Determining the average waste generation rate (kg per capita per day) and
corresponding standard deviation of the data presented in Table 3.
(3) Checking the correlation between the socio-economic categories, presented in
Table 4, and the solid waste generation, presented in Table 3.
(4) Sorting the residence numbers according to their income category, using the data
in Table 4, and determining the number of residences in the high, middle, and
low-income categories.
(5) Estimating the average generation rates of residential solid waste for different
economic categories, based on the given data in Figure 4, and calculating the
weighted average generation rate for the city.
(6) Commenting on the effect of socio-economic status on waste generation based on
the evidence of given data.

3.2 Method and Analysis

3.2.1 Average total waste per house and the per capita rate per day.

Average is also known as the arithmetic mean. The average is the summations of the
collection of numbers divided by the count of numbers in the collection [10]. In Table 3,
the gathered data for the waste generated from residences is twenty-five. Equation (3.1)
is the average, A, household waste generation.

1
𝐴= 𝑎𝑖 (3.1)
𝑛

n represents the count of numbers in the collection

ai represents the data set values

The average of the total waste generated from residence, A1, shall be

A1 = 2254.10 / 25 = 90.164 kg.

The average waste generation rate (kg per capita per day), A2, shall be

A2 = 44.82 / 25 = 1.7928 kg per capita per day

3.2.2 Standard deviation of waste per capita per day.

The standard deviation determines how dispersed the data is relative to its mean [11].
Equation (3.2) is the generated waste standard deviation, .

∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝜇)
𝜎= (3.2)
𝑁

xi represents each value from the data set

 represents the mean of the data
N represents the size of the data

A quicker tool for calculating the standard deviation is using an excel spreadsheet and
applying the STDEV.P function [12]. The standard deviation, , of the generated waste
is 1.06203 kilograms per capita per day.

3.2.3 Correlation between socio-economic categories to generated waste.

A correlation is a statistic that measures the degree to which two variables move with
each other. It is expressed numerically by the correlation coefficient, r, with values
ranging between +1.0 and -1.0. A positive correlation means that two assets move in the
same direction, while a negative correlation is in opposite directions. A zero correlation
implies no linear relationship at all. The most common method is the Pearson product-
moment correlation to determine the correlation coefficient, r [13]; see Equation (3.3).

𝑛 × (∑(𝑋, 𝑌) − (∑(𝑋) × ∑(𝑌)))

𝑟= (3.3)
(𝑛 × ∑(𝑋 ) − ∑(𝑋) ) × (𝑛 × ∑(𝑌 ) − ∑(𝑌) )

n represents the number of observations

X represents the X values
Y represents the Y values

A quicker tool for calculating the correlation coefficient is using an excel spreadsheet and
applying the CORREL function [14]. The correlation coefficient, r, between the socio-
economic categories (annual rental rate) and the average generated waste (kg per capita
per day) is -0.033630, which means no linear relationship.
3.2.4 Sorting and determining the income categories.

Sorting refers to ordering data in an increasing or decreasing manner to some linear

relationship among the data. A quicker tool for sorting data is using an excel spreadsheet
and applying the “Sort Smallest to Largest” feature [15]. Table 5 shows the sorting of the
residence numbers according to their income category.

Table 5: Sorting and determining the income categories

Number of Annual rental
Residence Income
persons per rate
No. Category
residence (Dh.)*
2 5 12,000 Low
4 3 12,000 Low
7 7 12,000 Low
1 6 15,000 Low
6 2 20,000 Low
5 3 21,000 Low
3 2 25,000 Low
9 5 28,000 Middle
20 8 28,000 Middle
31 4 30,000 Middle
8 3 32,000 Middle
12 3 35,000 Middle
23 6 35,000 Middle
30 5 35,000 Middle
32 5 36,000 Middle
18 5 40,000 Middle
27 8 40,000 Middle
13 6 42,000 Middle
10 5 44,000 Middle
15 4 45,000 Middle
33 3 45,000 Middle
29 4 46,000 Middle
26 4 48,000 Middle
11 4 50,000 Middle
17 8 50,000 Middle
16 4 52,000 Middle
24 2 52,000 Middle
21 6 56,000 Middle
14 3 60,000 Middle
19 3 60,000 Middle
28 3 60,000 Middle
34 8 60,000 Middle
22 3 62,000 Middle
25 4 62,000 Middle
35 4 70,000 High
39 8 70,000 High
38 9 100,000 High
36 5 120,000 High
40 7 120,000 High
37 5 Owner High
During the survey, the known percentages of each socio-economic category are 13% for
High-income, 70% for Middle-income, and 17% for Low-income. Table 6 summarizes
the number and range in each income category. Out of 40 residences, there are 7 in the
Low-income category, 27 in the Middle-income category, and 6 in the High-income
category. The Low-income ranges from 12,000 to 25,000 Dh, while the Middle-income
ranges from 28,000 to 62,000 Dh. The range of the High-income is from 70,000 to
120,000 Dh, including one resident who owns the house.

Table 6: Number and range in each income category

Income Number in each Range of
Categories Category annual rental rate (Dh.)*
Low 7 12,000 to 25,000
Middle 27 28,000 to 62,000
High 6 70,000 to 120,000

3.2.5 Estimated and weighted average generation rate.

Table 7 is the equivalent tabular format of Figure 4. The estimated average residential
solid waste generation rates for different economic categories are 0.94 kg per capita per
day for Low-income, 1.86 kg per capita per day for Middle-income, and 2.33 kg per capita
per day for High-income. The overall average is 1.77 kg per capita per day.

Table 7: Equivalent tabular format of Figure 4.

Residence Average rate Income Residence Average rate Income
No. (kg/capita/day) Category No. (kg/capita/day) Category
1 0.90 Low 21 2.05 Middle
2 0.85 Low 22 2.05 Middle
3 1.20 Low 23 1.00 Middle
4 0.70 Low 24 1.80 Middle
5 1.00 Low 25 2.15 Middle
6 1.20 Low 26 1.90 Middle
7 0.70 Low 27 1.40 Middle
8 1.70 Middle 28 2.30 Middle
9 1.35 Middle 29 1.90 Middle
10 1.85 Middle 30 1.70 Middle
11 1.75 Middle 31 1.30 Middle
12 2.20 Middle 32 1.30 Middle
13 2.70 Middle 33 1.75 Middle
14 2.60 Middle 34 2.25 Middle
15 2.00 Middle 35 2.05 High
16 2.10 Middle 36 2.90 High
17 1.95 Middle 37 2.20 High
18 1.90 Middle 38 2.15 High
19 2.40 Middle 39 1.70 High
20 1.00 Middle 40 3.00 High
The weighted average considers the varying degrees of importance of the numbers in a
data set. In calculating the weighted average, multiply a predetermined weight into each
number in the data set before finalizing the calculation [16]. Equation (3.4) is the
weighted average generation rate, W.

∑ 𝑤𝑖 𝑋𝑖
𝑊= (3.4)
∑ 𝑤𝑖
n represents the number of terms
wi represents the weights applied to X values
Xi represents the data values

A quicker tool for calculating the weighted average is using an excel spreadsheet and
applying the SUMPRODUCT and SUM functions [17]. The weighted average of the
generated waste is 1.96 kilograms per capita per day.

3.3 Results and Discussions

Problem no. 3 analyzed the gathered quantities of solid waste generated from residentials.
Table 8 summarizes Problem no. 3 results using averaging, correlating, and sorting.

Table 8: Problem no. 3 summary of results

Problem
To analyze Results
No.
Average of the total waste generated from residence, A1 90.164 kg
3.2.1
Average waste generation rate from residence, A2 1.7928 kg/capita/day
3.2.2 Standard deviation of generated waste,  1.06203 kg/capita/day
Correlation coefficient, r, between the socio-economic -0.033630
3.2.3 categories (annual rental rate) and the average generated (means no linear
waste (kg per capita per day) relationship)
Low-income ranges from 12,000 to 25,000 Dh 7 residences
3.2.4 Middle-income ranges from 28,000 to 62,000 Dh 27 residences
High-income ranges from 70,000 to 120,000 Dh 6 residences
Average generated waste from Low-income residences 0.94 kg/capita/day
3.2.5a Average generated waste from Middle-income residences 1.86 kg/capita/day
Average generated waste from High-income residences 2.33 kg/capita/day
Overall average generated waste from 40 residences 1.77 kg/capita/day
3.2.5b
Weighted average generation waste from 40 residences 1.96 kg/capita/day

In Problem no. 3.2.5a, the results show a significant effect of socio-economic status on
waste generation. The rate of generated waste in High-income residences is 25% more
than the Middle-income residences and 148% more than the Low-income residences.