In: Statistics and Probability
The birth weights for two groups of babies were compared in a study. In one group the mothers took a zinc supplement during pregnancy. In another group, the mothers took a placebo. A sample of 129 babies in the zinc group had a mean birth weight of 3469 grams. A sample of 142 babies in the placebo group had a mean birth weight of 3318 grams. Assume that the population standard deviation for the zinc group is 843 grams, while the population standard deviation for the placebo group is 775 grams. Determine the 95% confidence interval for the true difference between the mean birth weights for "zinc" babies versus "placebo" babies.
Step 1 of 2 : Find the critical value that should be used in constructing the confidence interval.