In: Statistics and Probability
In a survey, 39 people were asked how much they spent on their
child's last birthday gift. The results were roughly bell-shaped
with a mean of $45 and standard deviation of $14.
Calculate, state, and interpret a 95% confidence interval to
estimate the mean amount of money parents spend on their child's
birthday gift. Round to the nearest 100th where necessary.
Solution
Given that,
= 45
= 14
n = 39
At 95% confidence level the z is ,
  =
1 - 95% = 1 - 0.95 = 0.05
/ 2 = 0.05 / 2 = 0.025
Z
/2
= Z0.025 = 1.960
Margin of error = E = Z
/2*
(
/n)
= 1.960 * (14 / 
39 )
= 4.39
At 95% confidence interval estimate of the population mean is,
- E < 
 < 
 + E
45 - 4.39 < 
 < 45 + 4.39
40.61 < 
 < 49.39
(40.61 , 49.39)