In: Statistics and Probability
A random sample of 40 students is collected and the number of credit hours taken is recorded. The sample mean is computed to be 12.5 hours with a standard deviation of 3 hours. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean credit hours taken. Follow 4-step procedure.
Solution :
Given that,
Point estimate = sample mean =
= 12.5
Population standard deviation =
=3
Sample size n =40
At 95% confidence level the z is ,
= 1 - 95% = 1 - 0.95 = 0.05
/ 2 = 0.05 / 2 = 0.025
Z
/2
= Z0.025 = 1.96 ( Using z table )
Margin of error = E = Z
/2
* (
/n)
= 1.96 * (3 / 40
)
= 0.93
At 95% confidence interval mean
is,
- E <
<
+ E
12.5- 0.93 <
< 12.5+ 0.93
(11.57,13.43 )