Lecture 8

Problem 8.1
The time it takes for a taxi to drive from the office to the airport was recorded on 40
_
occasions. Is found that x = 47 minutes and s = 5 minutes. Give
(a) An estimate of µ = population mean time to drive
(b) An approximate 95.4% error margin

Solution
(a) An estimated of µ = sample means x = 47
σ 5
standard deviation = = = .79
n 40

(b) With 1-α = .954, we have α/2=.0225, and zα / 2 = 2.00

s 5
Hence, the 95.4% error margin is zα / 2 = 2.00 = 1.58 .
n 40

Problem 8.2
An investigator, interested in estimating a population mean, wants to be 95% certain that
the error of estimation does not exceed 2.5. What sample size should she use if σ = 18?

Solution
Let n be the size of the sample. Here σ = 18, and 1- α = .95, so α/2 = .25. The upper .05
point of the N(0, 1) distribution is zα/2 = 1.96. The tolerable error is d=2.5. Computing
2 2
 σ  18 
n =  zα / 2  = 1.96  = 199.15
 d  2.5 
we determine that the required sample size is n = 200.

Problem 8.3
A zoologist wishes to estimate the mean blood sugar level of a species of animal when
injected with a specified dosage of adrenaline. A sample of 55 animals of a common
breed are injected with adrenaline, and their blood sugar measurements are recorded in
units of milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood. The mean and the standard deviation of
these measurements are found to be 126.9 and 10.5, respectively.
(a) Give a point estimate of the population mean and find a 95.4% error margin.
(b) Determine a 90% confidence interval for the population mean.

Solution
S 10.5
(a) We have µ = X = 126.9, standard deviation = = = 1.416
n 55
with 1-α = .954, we have α/2=.0225, and zα / 2 = 2.00
s 10.5
Hence, the 95.4% error margin is zα / 2 = 2.00 = 2.83 .
n 55

(b) Determine a 90% confidence interval means α = .1, za / 2 = 1.64

90% confidence interval =
 S S   10.5 10.5 
 X − zα / 2 , X + zα / 2  = 126.9 − 1.64 ,126.9 + 1.64  = (124.6,129.2)
 n n  55 55 

Problem 8.4
After feeding a special diet to 80 mice, the scientist measures the weight in grams
_
and obtain x = 35 grams and s = 4 grams. He states that a 90% confidence interval
for µ given by

 4 4 
 35 − 1.645 ,35 + 1.645  or (34.26, 35.74)
 80 80 
(a) What the confidence interval calculated correctly? If not, provide the correct result.
(b) Does the interval (34.26, 35.74) cover the true mean? Explain your answer.

Solution
(a) 90% confidence interval means α = .1, z a / 2 = 1.645
90% confidence interval of µ
 S S   4 4 
 X − zα / 2 , X + zα / 2  =  35 − 1.645 ,35 + 1.645 
 n n  80 80 
The confident level is correctly calculated.

(b) With 90%, the interval seems to covers the true mean.

Problem 8.5
_
The time to blossom of 21 plants has x = 38.4 days and s = 5.1 days. Give a 95%
confidence interval for the mean time to blossom.

Solution
95% confident means α = .1, tα / 2 = 2.086 where d.f. = 20
A 95% confidence interval for the mean µ is
 S S   5.1 5.1 
 X − tα / 2 , X + tα / 2  =  38.4 − 2.086 ,38.4 + 2.086  = (36.08, 40.72)
 n n  21 21 
Problem 8.6
Based on random sample of size 11 from a normal population, one has calculated the
99% confidence interval for the population mean µ and obtained the result (62.5,86.9).
Using this result, obtain
(a) A point estimate of µ and its 95% margin of error.
(b) A 90% confidence interval for µ.

Solution
99% confident means α = .01, tα / 2 = 3.17 with d.f. = 10
99% confident interval
 S S   S S 
 X − tα / 2 , X + tα / 2  =  X − 3.17 , X + 3.17  = (62.5, 86.9)
 n n  n n
 S
 X − 3.17 n = 62.5
(1)


 X + 3.17 S = 86.9 (2)
 n
(1) + (2) = 2 X = 62.5 + 86.9 = 149.4 ⇒ X = 74.7
S 24.4 × 11
(2) - (1) = 2 × 3.17 = 24.4 ⇒ S = = 12.76
n 2 × 3.17

We have µ = X = 74.7, S = 12.76

(a) 95% confident means α = .05, tα / 2 = 2.228

95% confident interval
 S S   12.76 12.76 
 X − tα / 2 , X + tα / 2  =  74.7 − 2.228 ,74.7 + 2.228  = (66.13, 83.27)
 n n  11 11 

(b) 90% confident means α = .1, tα / 2 = 1.372

90% confident interval is
 S S   12.76 12.76 
 X − tα / 2 , X + tα / 2  =  74.7 − 1.372 ,74.7 + 1.372  = (69.42, 79.98)
 n n  11 11 

Problem 8.7
Suppose that based on a random sample of size 10 from a normal population, one has
found the 95% confidence interval for the population mean to be (36.2, 45.8). Using this
results,
(a) Find the sample standard deviation.
(b) Determine a 98% confidence interval for the population mean.
(c) Determine a 95% confidence interval for the population standard deviation.
Solution
95% confidence interval α = .05, tα / 2 = 2.262 with d.f. = 9.
The 95% confident interval is
 S S   S S 
 X − tα / 2 , X + tα / 2  =  X − 2.262 , X + 2.262  = (36.2, 45.8).
 n n  n n
 S
 X − 2 .262 = 36.2 (1)
n
→
 X + 2.262 S = 45.8 (2)
 n
(1) + (2) → 2 X = 36.2 + 45.8 = 82 ⇒ X = 41
S 9.6 × 10
(2) - (1) → 2 × 2.262 = 9.6 ⇒ S = = 6.71
n 2 × 2.262
(a) S = 6.71
(b) 98% confident interval means α = .02, Tα / 2 = 2.821 where d.f. = 9. The 98%
confident interval is

 S S   5.64 5.64 
 X − Tα / 2 , X + Tα / 2  =  41 − 2.821 ,41 + 2.821  = (35.97,46.03).
 n n  10 10 
(c) 95% confidence means that α = .05, χ α2 / 2 = 19.02, χ 12−α / 2 = 3.78
A 95% confidence interval for σ is
 n n   10 10 
S , S =  6. 71 , 6. 71  = (4.87,10.91)
 χ 2
χ 2   19. 02 3. 78 
 α /2 1−α / 2   