In: Statistics and Probability
At Burnt Mesa Pueblo the method of tree ring dating gave the following dates A.D. for an archaeological excavation site: 1189 1271 1267 1272 1268 1316 1275 1317 1275
This sample has mean 1272.2 and standard deviation 36.93. Find a 90% confidence interval using these data and interpret the interval.
Solution :
sample size = n = 9
Degrees of freedom = df = n - 1 = 8
t /2,df = 1.860
Margin of error = E = t/2,df * (s /n)
= 1.860 * (36.93 / 9)
Margin of error = E = 22.9
The 90% confidence interval estimate of the population mean is,
- E < < + E
1272.2 - 22.9 < < 1272.2 + 22.9
1249.3 < < 1295.1
The 90% confidence interval estimate of the population mean is from 1249.3 to 1295.1