In: Statistics and Probability
In a random sample of 24 hip surgeries of a certain type, the mean surgery time was 136.9 minutes with a sample standard deviation of 22.6 minutes. Which of the following is a 99% confidence interval for the population mean surgery time?
| a. | 
 (127.36, 146.44)  | 
|
| b. | 
 (123.95, 149.85)  | 
|
| c. | 
 (128.99, 144.81)  | 
|
| d. | 
 (125.02, 148.78)  | 
Solution :
Given that,
Point estimate = sample mean = 
 = 136.9
sample standard deviation = s = 22.6
sample size = n = 24
Degrees of freedom = df = n - 1 = 24 - 1 = 23
At 99% confidence level
= 1 - 99%
 =1 - 0.99 =0.01
/2
= 0.005
t
/2,df  =
t0.005,23 = 2.807
Margin of error = E = t
/2,df
* (s /n)
= 2.807 * ( 22.6 / 
24)
Margin of error = E = 12.95
The 99% confidence interval estimate of the population mean is,
- E < 
 < 
 + E
136.9 - 12.95 < 
 < 136.9 + 12.95
123.95 < 
 < 149.85
( 123.95 , 149.85 )
Correct option :- a. ( 123.95 , 149.85 )