In this activity, you will analyze a statistical model for a given situation based on the data and use the model to draw inferences. Read this scenario, and then use the information to answer the questions that follow. Every year, a pet food company sells its food to stores across the nation. Some of these stores are new customers, and some are returning customers. For the coming year, the company has set a strategic initiative to increase the proportion of its sales to new stores.

The sales director is conducting research to determine whether the company’s sales representatives need additional training to accomplish the company’s goals. Based on experience from the previous year, the sales director has constructed the statistical model shown in the table. This model reflects projections of sales orders from new and current stores for the coming year, broken down by the company’s sales regions.

Sales Goals
Current Stores (%)​ New Stores (%)
Midwest 85 15
South 74 26
Northeast 83 17
During the first month of the new year, the sales director collected data on the sales orders for a random sample of sales representatives within each region. Assume that sales representatives work in only one region.

First Month’s Sales Orders​
Current Stores​ New Stores
Midwest 362 66
South 197 115
Northeast 250 60
Part A
Question
Consider the first month’s sales data for the Midwest region.

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu.

For the Midwest region, the proportion of sales from new stores is approximately
%.

Because this proportion is
the sales director’s statistical model, the data is
with the model.

Part B
Question
Consider the first month’s sales data for the South region.

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu.

For the South region, the proportion of sales from current stores is approximately
58
%.

Because this proportion is
significantly different from
the sales director’s statistical model, the data is
inconsistent
with the model.

Part C
Suppose the pet food company’s strategy is to increase the proportion of sales orders from new stores in each region to 25% during the coming year.

Consider the data and proportions of sales from new stores for each region in the first month. Do you think additional training is necessary for all of the sales representatives? Why or why not?

Type your response in the box.