# 7.E: Estimation (Exercises)

These are homework exercises to accompany the Textmap created for "Introductory Statistics" by Shafer and Zhang. Complementary General Chemistry question banks can be found for other Textmaps and can be accessed here. In addition to these publicly available questions, access to private problems bank for use in exams and homework is available to faculty only on an individual basis; please contact Delmar Larsen for an account with access permission.

### Basic

1. A random sample is drawn from a population of known standard deviation 11.3. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given (not all of the information given need be used).

1. n = 36, x=105.2s = 11.2
2. n = 100, x=105.2s = 11.2
2. A random sample is drawn from a population of known standard deviation 22.1. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given (not all of the information given need be used).

1. n = 121, x=82.4s = 21.9
2. n = 81, x=82.4s = 21.9
3. A random sample is drawn from a population of unknown standard deviation. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given.

1. n = 49, x=17.1s = 2.1
2. n = 169, x=17.1s = 2.1
4. A random sample is drawn from a population of unknown standard deviation. Construct a 98% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given.

1. n = 225, x=92.0s = 8.4
2. n = 64, x=92.0s = 8.4
5. A random sample of size 144 is drawn from a population whose distribution, mean, and standard deviation are all unknown. The summary statistics are x=58.2 and s = 2.6.

1. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
2. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
3. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.
6. A random sample of size 256 is drawn from a population whose distribution, mean, and standard deviation are all unknown. The summary statistics are x=1011 and s = 34.

1. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
2. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
3. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.

### Applications

1. A government agency was charged by the legislature with estimating the length of time it takes citizens to fill out various forms. Two hundred randomly selected adults were timed as they filled out a particular form. The times required had mean 12.8 minutes with standard deviation 1.7 minutes. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean time taken for all adults to fill out this form.

2. Four hundred randomly selected working adults in a certain state, including those who worked at home, were asked the distance from their home to their workplace. The average distance was 8.84 miles with standard deviation 2.70 miles. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the mean distance from home to work for all residents of this state.

3. On every passenger vehicle that it tests an automotive magazine measures, at true speed 55 mph, the difference between the true speed of the vehicle and the speed indicated by the speedometer. For 36 vehicles tested the mean difference was −1.2 mph with standard deviation 0.2 mph. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean difference between true speed and indicated speed for all vehicles.

4. A corporation monitors time spent by office workers browsing the web on their computers instead of working. In a sample of computer records of 50 workers, the average amount of time spent browsing in an eight-hour work day was 27.8 minutes with standard deviation 8.2 minutes. Construct a 99.5% confidence interval for the mean time spent by all office workers in browsing the web in an eight-hour day.

5. A sample of 250 workers aged 16 and older produced an average length of time with the current employer (“job tenure”) of 4.4 years with standard deviation 3.8 years. Construct a 99.9% confidence interval for the mean job tenure of all workers aged 16 or older.

6. The amount of a particular biochemical substance related to bone breakdown was measured in 30 healthy women. The sample mean and standard deviation were 3.3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and 1.4 ng/mL. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean level of this substance in all healthy women.

7. A corporation that owns apartment complexes wishes to estimate the average length of time residents remain in the same apartment before moving out. A sample of 150 rental contracts gave a mean length of occupancy of 3.7 years with standard deviation 1.2 years. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean length of occupancy of apartments owned by this corporation.

8. The designer of a garbage truck that lifts roll-out containers must estimate the mean weight the truck will lift at each collection point. A random sample of 325 containers of garbage on current collection routes yielded x=75.3 lb, s = 12.8 lb. Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean weight the trucks must lift each time.

9. In order to estimate the mean amount of damage sustained by vehicles when a deer is struck, an insurance company examined the records of 50 such occurrences, and obtained a sample mean of $2,785 with sample standard deviation$221. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean amount of damage in all such accidents.

10. In order to estimate the mean FICO credit score of its members, a credit union samples the scores of 95 members, and obtains a sample mean of 738.2 with sample standard deviation 64.2. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the mean FICO score of all of its members.

1. For all settings a packing machine delivers a precise amount of liquid; the amount dispensed always has standard deviation 0.07 ounce. To calibrate the machine its setting is fixed and it is operated 50 times. The mean amount delivered is 6.02 ounces with sample standard deviation 0.04 ounce. Construct a 99.5% confidence interval for the mean amount delivered at this setting. Hint: Not all the information provided is needed.

2. A power wrench used on an assembly line applies a precise, preset amount of torque; the torque applied has standard deviation 0.73 foot-pound at every torque setting. To check that the wrench is operating within specifications it is used to tighten 100 fasteners. The mean torque applied is 36.95 foot-pounds with sample standard deviation 0.62 foot-pound. Construct a 99.9% confidence interval for the mean amount of torque applied by the wrench at this setting. Hint: Not all the information provided is needed.

3. The number of trips to a grocery store per week was recorded for a randomly selected collection of households, with the results shown in the table.

223232251106432223333212544434

Construct a 95% confidence interval for the average number of trips to a grocery store per week of all households.

4. For each of 40 high school students in one county the number of days absent from school in the previous year were counted, with the results shown in the frequency table.

xf0241725324151

Construct a 90% confidence interval for the average number of days absent from school of all students in the county.

5. A town council commissioned a random sample of 85 households to estimate the number of four-wheel vehicles per household in the town. The results are shown in the following frequency table.

xf0111622832241256

Construct a 98% confidence interval for the average number of four-wheel vehicles per household in the town.

6. The number of hours per day that a television set was operating was recorded for a randomly selected collection of households, with the results shown in the table.

3.74.72.13.04.32.54.28.23.63.82.11.31.53.91.12.22.42.83.62.57.34.26.03.05.94.44.23.83.75.6

Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean number of hours that a television set is in operation in all households.

### Large Data Set Exercises

1. Large Data Set 1 records the SAT scores of 1,000 students. Regarding it as a random sample of all high school students, use it to construct a 99% confidence interval for the mean SAT score of all students.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data1.xls

2. Large Data Set 1 records the GPAs of 1,000 college students. Regarding it as a random sample of all college students, use it to construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean GPA of all students.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data1.xls

3. Large Data Set 1 lists the SAT scores of 1,000 students.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data1.xls

1. Regard the data as arising from a census of all students at a high school, in which the SAT score of every student was measured. Compute the population mean μ.
2. Regard the first 36 students as a random sample and use it to construct a 99% confidence for the mean μ of all 1,000 SAT scores. Does it actually capture the mean μ?
4. Large Data Set 1 lists the GPAs of 1,000 students.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data1.xls

1. Regard the data as arising from a census of all freshman at a small college at the end of their first academic year of college study, in which the GPA of every such person was measured. Compute the population mean μ.
2. Regard the first 36 students as a random sample and use it to construct a 95% confidence for the mean μ of all 1,000 GPAs. Does it actually capture the mean μ?

1. 105.2±3.10
2. 105.2±1.86
1.
1. 17.1±0.77
2. 17.1±0.42
2.
1. 58.2±0.28
2. 58.2±0.36
3. Asking for greater confidence requires a longer interval.
3.
1. 12.8±0.20

2.
3. 1.2±0.05

4.
5. 4.4±0.79

6.
7. 3.7±0.19

8.
9. 2785±61

10.
1. 6.02±0.03

2.
3. 2.8±0.48

4.
5. 2.54±0.30

6.
1. (1511.43,1546.05)

2.
1. μ = 1528.74
2. (1428.22,1602.89)

### Basic Exercises

1. A random sample is drawn from a normally distributed population of known standard deviation 5. Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given (not all of the information given need be used).

1. n = 16, x=98s = 5.6
2. n = 9, x=98s = 5.6
2. A random sample is drawn from a normally distributed population of known standard deviation 10.7. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given (not all of the information given need be used).

1. n = 25, x=103.3s = 11.0
2. n = 4, x=103.3s = 11.0
3. A random sample is drawn from a normally distributed population of unknown standard deviation. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given.

1. n = 18, x=386s = 24
2. n = 7, x=386s = 24
4. A random sample is drawn from a normally distributed population of unknown standard deviation. Construct a 98% confidence interval for the population mean based on the information given.

1. n = 8, x=58.3s = 4.1
2. n = 27, x=58.3s = 4.1
5. A random sample of size 14 is drawn from a normal population. The summary statistics are x=933 and s = 18.

1. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
2. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
3. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.
6. A random sample of size 28 is drawn from a normal population. The summary statistics are x=68.6 and s = 1.28.

1. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
2. Construct a 99.5% confidence interval for the population mean μ.
3. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.

### ApplicationExercises

1. City planners wish to estimate the mean lifetime of the most commonly planted trees in urban settings. A sample of 16 recently felled trees yielded mean age 32.7 years with standard deviation 3.1 years. Assuming the lifetimes of all such trees are normally distributed, construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean lifetime of all such trees.

2. To estimate the number of calories in a cup of diced chicken breast meat, the number of calories in a sample of four separate cups of meat is measured. The sample mean is 211.8 calories with sample standard deviation 0.9 calorie. Assuming the caloric content of all such chicken meat is normally distributed, construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean number of calories in one cup of meat.

3. A college athletic program wishes to estimate the average increase in the total weight an athlete can lift in three different lifts after following a particular training program for six weeks. Twenty-five randomly selected athletes when placed on the program exhibited a mean gain of 47.3 lb with standard deviation 6.4 lb. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean increase in lifting capacity all athletes would experience if placed on the training program. Assume increases among all athletes are normally distributed.

4. To test a new tread design with respect to stopping distance, a tire manufacturer manufactures a set of prototype tires and measures the stopping distance from 70 mph on a standard test car. A sample of 25 stopping distances yielded a sample mean 173 feet with sample standard deviation 8 feet. Construct a 98% confidence interval for the mean stopping distance for these tires. Assume a normal distribution of stopping distances.

5. A manufacturer of chokes for shotguns tests a choke by shooting 15 patterns at targets 40 yards away with a specified load of shot. The mean number of shot in a 30-inch circle is 53.5 with standard deviation 1.6. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean number of shot in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards for this choke with the specified load. Assume a normal distribution of the number of shot in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards for this choke.

6. In order to estimate the speaking vocabulary of three-year-old children in a particular socioeconomic class, a sociologist studies the speech of four children. The mean and standard deviation of the sample are x=1120 and s = 215 words. Assuming that speaking vocabularies are normally distributed, construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean speaking vocabulary of all three-year-old children in this socioeconomic group.

7. A thread manufacturer tests a sample of eight lengths of a certain type of thread made of blended materials and obtains a mean tensile strength of 8.2 lb with standard deviation 0.06 lb. Assuming tensile strengths are normally distributed, construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean tensile strength of this thread.

8. An airline wishes to estimate the weight of the paint on a fully painted aircraft of the type it flies. In a sample of four repaintings the average weight of the paint applied was 239 pounds, with sample standard deviation 8 pounds. Assuming that weights of paint on aircraft are normally distributed, construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean weight of paint on all such aircraft.

9. In a study of dummy foal syndrome, the average time between birth and onset of noticeable symptoms in a sample of six foals was 18.6 hours, with standard deviation 1.7 hours. Assuming that the time to onset of symptoms in all foals is normally distributed, construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean time between birth and onset of noticeable symptoms.

10. A sample of 26 women’s size 6 dresses had mean waist measurement 25.25 inches with sample standard deviation 0.375 inch. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean waist measurement of all size 6 women’s dresses. Assume waist measurements are normally distributed.

1. Botanists studying attrition among saplings in new growth areas of forests diligently counted stems in six plots in five-year-old new growth areas, obtaining the following counts of stems per acre:

9,4328,77311,0269,86810,53910,247

Construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean number of stems per acre in all five-year-old new growth areas of forests. Assume that the number of stems per acre is normally distributed.

2. Nutritionists are investigating the efficacy of a diet plan designed to increase the caloric intake of elderly people. The increase in daily caloric intake in 12 individuals who are put on the plan is (a minus sign signifies that calories consumed went down):

12118828410294259295226183152312167

Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean increase in caloric intake for all people who are put on this diet. Assume that population of differences in intake is normally distributed.

3. A machine for making precision cuts in dimension lumber produces studs with lengths that vary with standard deviation 0.003 inch. Five trial cuts are made to check the machine’s calibration. The mean length of the studs produced is 104.998 inches with sample standard deviation 0.004 inch. Construct a 99.5% confidence interval for the mean lengths of all studs cut by this machine. Assume lengths are normally distributed. Hint: Not all the numbers given in the problem are used.

4. The variation in time for a baked good to go through a conveyor oven at a large scale bakery has standard deviation 0.017 minute at every time setting. To check the bake time of the oven periodically four batches of goods are carefully timed. The recent check gave a mean of 27.2 minutes with sample standard deviation 0.012 minute. Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the mean bake time of all batches baked in this oven. Assume bake times are normally distributed. Hint: Not all the numbers given in the problem are used.

5. Wildlife researchers tranquilized and weighed three adult male polar bears. The data (in pounds) are: 926, 742, 1,109. Assume the weights of all bears are normally distributed.

1. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean weight of all adult male polar bears using these data.
2. Convert the three weights in pounds to weights in kilograms using the conversion 1 lb = 0.453 kg (so the first datum changes to (926)(0.453)=419). Use the converted data to construct an 80% confidence interval for the mean weight of all adult male polar bears expressed in kilograms.
3. Convert your answer in part (a) into kilograms directly and compare it to your answer in (b). This illustrates that if you construct a confidence interval in one system of units you can convert it directly into another system of units without having to convert all the data to the new units.
6. Wildlife researchers trapped and measured six adult male collared lemmings. The data (in millimeters) are: 104, 99, 112, 115, 96, 109. Assume the lengths of all lemmings are normally distributed.

1. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean length of all adult male collared lemmings using these data.
2. Convert the six lengths in millimeters to lengths in inches using the conversion 1 mm = 0.039 in (so the first datum changes to (104)(0.039) = 4.06). Use the converted data to construct a 90% confidence interval for the mean length of all adult male collared lemmings expressed in inches.
3. Convert your answer in part (a) into inches directly and compare it to your answer in (b). This illustrates that if you construct a confidence interval in one system of units you can convert it directly into another system of units without having to convert all the data to the new units.

1. 98±3.9
2. 98±5.2
1.
1. 386±16.4
2. 386±33.6
2.
1. 933±6.5
2. 933±8.5
3. Asking for greater confidence requires a longer interval.
3.
1. 32.7±2.9

2.
3. 47.3±2.19

4.
5. 53.5±0.56

6.
7. 8.2±0.04

8.
9. 18.6±1.4

10.
1. 9981±486

2.
3. 104.998±0.004

4.
1. 926±200
2. 419±90
3. 419±91

### Basic

1. Information about a random sample is given. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion. Then construct a 90% confidence interval for the population proportion.

1. n = 25,  pˆ=0.7
2. n = 50,  pˆ=0.7
2. Information about a random sample is given. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion. Then construct a 95% confidence interval for the population proportion.

1. n = 2500,  pˆ=0.22
2. n = 1200,  pˆ=0.22
3. Information about a random sample is given. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion. Then construct a 98% confidence interval for the population proportion.

1. n = 80,  pˆ=0.4
2. n = 325,  pˆ=0.4
4. Information about a random sample is given. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion. Then construct a 99.5% confidence interval for the population proportion.

1. n = 200,  pˆ=0.85
2. n = 75,  pˆ=0.85
5. In a random sample of size 1,100, 338 have the characteristic of interest.

1. Compute the sample proportion  pˆ with the characteristic of interest.
2. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion.
3. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the population proportion p.
4. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population proportion p.
5. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.
6. In a random sample of size 2,400, 420 have the characteristic of interest.

1. Compute the sample proportion  pˆ with the characteristic of interest.
2. Verify that the sample is large enough to use it to construct a confidence interval for the population proportion.
3. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the population proportion p.
4. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the population proportion p.
5. Comment on why one interval is longer than the other.

### Applications

1. A security feature on some web pages is graphic representations of words that are readable by human beings but not machines. When a certain design format was tested on 450 subjects, by having them attempt to read ten disguised words, 448 subjects could read all the words.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion p of all people who could read words disguised in this way.
2. Show that the sample is not sufficiently large to construct a confidence interval for the proportion of all people who could read words disguised in this way.
2. In a random sample of 900 adults, 42 defined themselves as vegetarians.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all adults who would define themselves as vegetarians.
2. Verify that the sample is sufficiently large to use it to construct a confidence interval for that proportion.
3. Construct an 80% confidence interval for the proportion of all adults who would define themselves as vegetarians.
3. In a random sample of 250 employed people, 61 said that they bring work home with them at least occasionally.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all employed people who bring work home with them at least occasionally.
2. Construct a 99% confidence interval for that proportion.
4. In a random sample of 1,250 household moves, 822 were moves to a location within the same county as the original residence.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all household moves that are to a location within the same county as the original residence.
2. Construct a 98% confidence interval for that proportion.
5. In a random sample of 12,447 hip replacement or revision surgery procedures nationwide, 162 patients developed a surgical site infection.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all patients undergoing a hip surgery procedure who develop a surgical site infection.
2. Verify that the sample is sufficiently large to use it to construct a confidence interval for that proportion.
3. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the proportion of all patients undergoing a hip surgery procedure who develop a surgical site infection.
6. In a certain region prepackaged products labeled 500 g must contain on average at least 500 grams of the product, and at least 90% of all packages must weigh at least 490 grams. In a random sample of 300 packages, 288 weighed at least 490 grams.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all packages that weigh at least 490 grams.
2. Verify that the sample is sufficiently large to use it to construct a confidence interval for that proportion.
3. Construct a 99.8% confidence interval for the proportion of all packages that weigh at least 490 grams.
7. A survey of 50 randomly selected adults in a small town asked them if their opinion on a proposed “no cruising” restriction late at night. Responses were coded 1 for in favor, 0 for indifferent, and 2 for opposed, with the results shown in the table.

10001022202010000221100020101000000122021002120102
1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all adults in the community who are indifferent concerning the proposed restriction.
2. Assuming that the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 90% confidence interval for the proportion of all adults in the community who are indifferent concerning the proposed restriction.
8. To try to understand the reason for returned goods, the manager of a store examines the records on 40 products that were returned in the last year. Reasons were coded by 1 for “defective,” 2 for “unsatisfactory,” and 0 for all other reasons, with the results shown in the table.

0000200000200000000000010000202000000200
1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all returns that are because of something wrong with the product, that is, either defective or performed unsatisfactorily.
2. Assuming that the sample is sufficiently large, construct an 80% confidence interval for the proportion of all returns that are because of something wrong with the product.
9. In order to estimate the proportion of entering students who graduate within six years, the administration at a state university examined the records of 600 randomly selected students who entered the university six years ago, and found that 312 had graduated.

1. Give a point estimate of the six-year graduation rate, the proportion of entering students who graduate within six years.
2. Assuming that the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 98% confidence interval for the six-year graduation rate.
10. In a random sample of 2,300 mortgages taken out in a certain region last year, 187 were adjustable-rate mortgages.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all mortgages taken out in this region last year that were adjustable-rate mortgages.
2. Assuming that the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 99.9% confidence interval for the proportion of all mortgages taken out in this region last year that were adjustable-rate mortgages.
11. In a research study in cattle breeding, 159 of 273 cows in several herds that were in estrus were detected by means of an intensive once a day, one-hour observation of the herds in early morning.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all cattle in estrus who are detected by this method.
2. Assuming that the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 90% confidence interval for the proportion of all cattle in estrus who are detected by this method.
12. A survey of 21,250 households concerning telephone service gave the results shown in the table.

Landline No Landline
Cell phone 12,474 5,844
No cell phone 2,529 403
1. Give a point estimate for the proportion of all households in which there is a cell phone but no landline.
2. Assuming the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 99.9% confidence interval for the proportion of all households in which there is a cell phone but no landline.
3. Give a point estimate for the proportion of all households in which there is no telephone service of either kind.
4. Assuming the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 99.9% confidence interval for the proportion of all all households in which there is no telephone service of either kind.

1. In a random sample of 900 adults, 42 defined themselves as vegetarians. Of these 42, 29 were women.

1. Give a point estimate of the proportion of all self-described vegetarians who are women.
2. Verify that the sample is sufficiently large to use it to construct a confidence interval for that proportion.
3. Construct a 90% confidence interval for the proportion of all all self-described vegetarians who are women.
2. A random sample of 185 college soccer players who had suffered injuries that resulted in loss of playing time was made with the results shown in the table. Injuries are classified according to severity of the injury and the condition under which it was sustained.

Minor Moderate Serious
Practice 48 20 6
Game 62 32 17
1. Give a point estimate for the proportion p of all injuries to college soccer players that are sustained in practice.
2. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the proportion p of all injuries to college soccer players that are sustained in practice.
3. Give a point estimate for the proportion p of all injuries to college soccer players that are either moderate or serious.
4. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the proportion p of all injuries to college soccer players that are either moderate or serious.
3. The body mass index (BMI) was measured in 1,200 randomly selected adults, with the results shown in the table.

BMI
Under 18.5 18.5–25 Over 25
Men 36 165 315
Women 75 274 335
1. Give a point estimate for the proportion of all men whose BMI is over 25.
2. Assuming the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 99% confidence interval for the proportion of all men whose BMI is over 25.
3. Give a point estimate for the proportion of all adults, regardless of gender, whose BMI is over 25.
4. Assuming the sample is sufficiently large, construct a 99% confidence interval for the proportion of all adults, regardless of gender, whose BMI is over 25.
4. Confidence intervals constructed using the formula in this section often do not do as well as expected unless n is quite large, especially when the true population proportion is close to either 0 or 1. In such cases a better result is obtained by adding two successes and two failures to the actual data and then computing the confidence interval. This is the same as using the formula

p˜±zα/2p˜(1p˜)n˜wherep˜=x+2n+4andn˜=n+4

Suppose that in a random sample of 600 households, 12 had no telephone service of any kind. Use the adjusted confidence interval procedure just described to form a 99.9% confidence interval for the proportion of all households that have no telephone service of any kind.

### Large Data Set Exercises

1. Large Data Sets 4 and 4A list the results of 500 tosses of a die. Let p denote the proportion of all tosses of this die that would result in a four. Use the sample data to construct a 90% confidence interval for p.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data4.xls

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data4A.xls

2. Large Data Set 6 records results of a random survey of 200 voters in each of two regions, in which they were asked to express whether they prefer Candidate A for a U.S. Senate seat or prefer some other candidate. Use the full data set (400 observations) to construct a 98% confidence interval for the proportion p of all voters who prefer Candidate A.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data6.xls

3. Lines 2 through 536 in Large Data Set 11 is a sample of 535 real estate sales in a certain region in 2008. Those that were foreclosure sales are identified with a 1 in the second column.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data11.xls

1. Use these data to construct a point estimate  pˆ of the proportion p of all real estate sales in this region in 2008 that were foreclosure sales.
2. Use these data to construct a 90% confidence for p.
4. Lines 537 through 1106 in Large Data Set 11 is a sample of 570 real estate sales in a certain region in 2010. Those that were foreclosure sales are identified with a 1 in the second column.

http://www.gone.2012books.lardbucket.org/sites/all/files/data11.xls

1. Use these data to construct a point estimate  pˆ of the proportion p of all real estate sales in this region in 2010 that were foreclosure sales.
2. Use these data to construct a 90% confidence for p.

1. (0.5492, 0.8508)
2. (0.5934, 0.8066)
1.
1. (0.2726, 0.5274)
2. (0.3368, 0.4632)
2.
1. 0.3073
2. pˆ±3pˆqˆn=0.31±0.04

and

[0.27,0.35][0,1]

3. (0.2895, 0.3251)
4. (0.2844, 0.3302)
5. Asking for greater confidence requires a longer interval.
3.
1. 0.9956
2. (0.9862, 1.005)
1.
1. 0.244
2. (0.1740, 0.3140)
2.
1. 0.013
2. (0.01, 0.016)
3. (0.011, 0.015)
3.
1. 0.52
2. (0.4038, 0.6362)
4.
1. 0.52
2. (0.4726, 0.5674)
5.
1. 0.5824
2. (0.5333, 0.6315)
6.
1. 0.69
2. pˆ±3pˆqˆn=0.69±0.21

and

[0.48,0.90][0,1]

3. 0.69±0.12
1.
1. 0.6105
2. (0.5552, 0.6658)
3. 0.5583
4. (0.5214, 0.5952)
2.
1. (0.1368,0.1912)

2.
1. pˆ=0.2280
2. (0.1982,0.2579)

### Basic

1. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the mean of a population having the standard deviation shown, meeting the criteria given.

1. σ = 30, 95% confidence, E = 10
2. σ = 30, 99% confidence, E = 10
3. σ = 30, 95% confidence, E = 5
2. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the mean of a population having the standard deviation shown, meeting the criteria given.

1. σ = 4, 95% confidence, E = 1
2. σ = 4, 99% confidence, E = 1
3. σ = 4, 95% confidence, E = 0.5
3. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the proportion of a population that has a particular characteristic, meeting the criteria given.

1. p ≈ 0.37, 80% confidence, E = 0.05
2. p ≈ 0.37, 90% confidence, E = 0.05
3. p ≈ 0.37, 80% confidence, E = 0.01
4. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the proportion of a population that has a particular characteristic, meeting the criteria given.

1. p ≈ 0.81, 95% confidence, E = 0.02
2. p ≈ 0.81, 99% confidence, E = 0.02
3. p ≈ 0.81, 95% confidence, E = 0.01
5. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the proportion of a population that has a particular characteristic, meeting the criteria given.

1. 80% confidence, E = 0.05
2. 90% confidence, E = 0.05
3. 80% confidence, E = 0.01
6. Estimate the minimum sample size needed to form a confidence interval for the proportion of a population that has a particular characteristic, meeting the criteria given.

1. 95% confidence, E = 0.02
2. 99% confidence, E = 0.02
3. 95% confidence, E = 0.01

### Applications

1. A software engineer wishes to estimate, to within 5 seconds, the mean time that a new application takes to start up, with 95% confidence. Estimate the minimum size sample required if the standard deviation of start up times for similar software is 12 seconds.

2. A real estate agent wishes to estimate, to within $2.50, the mean retail cost per square foot of newly built homes, with 80% confidence. He estimates the standard deviation of such costs at$5.00. Estimate the minimum size sample required.

3. An economist wishes to estimate, to within 2 minutes, the mean time that employed persons spend commuting each day, with 95% confidence. On the assumption that the standard deviation of commuting times is 8 minutes, estimate the minimum size sample required.

4. A motor club wishes to estimate, to within 1 cent, the mean price of 1 gallon of regular gasoline in a certain region, with 98% confidence. Historically the variability of prices is measured by σ=$0.03. Estimate the minimum size sample required. 5. A bank wishes to estimate, to within$25, the mean average monthly balance in its checking accounts, with 99.8% confidence. Assumingσ=$250, estimate the minimum size sample required. 6. A retailer wishes to estimate, to within 15 seconds, the mean duration of telephone orders taken at its call center, with 99.5% confidence. In the past the standard deviation of call length has been about 1.25 minutes. Estimate the minimum size sample required. (Be careful to express all the information in the same units.) 7. The administration at a college wishes to estimate, to within two percentage points, the proportion of all its entering freshmen who graduate within four years, with 90% confidence. Estimate the minimum size sample required. 8. A chain of automotive repair stores wishes to estimate, to within five percentage points, the proportion of all passenger vehicles in operation that are at least five years old, with 98% confidence. Estimate the minimum size sample required. 9. An internet service provider wishes to estimate, to within one percentage point, the current proportion of all email that is spam, with 99.9% confidence. Last year the proportion that was spam was 71%. Estimate the minimum size sample required. 10. An agronomist wishes to estimate, to within one percentage point, the proportion of a new variety of seed that will germinate when planted, with 95% confidence. A typical germination rate is 97%. Estimate the minimum size sample required. 11. A charitable organization wishes to estimate, to within half a percentage point, the proportion of all telephone solicitations to its donors that result in a gift, with 90% confidence. Estimate the minimum sample size required, using the information that in the past the response rate has been about 30%. 12. A government agency wishes to estimate the proportion of drivers aged 16–24 who have been involved in a traffic accident in the last year. It wishes to make the estimate to within one percentage point and at 90% confidence. Find the minimum sample size required, using the information that several years ago the proportion was 0.12. ### Additional Exercises 1. An economist wishes to estimate, to within six months, the mean time between sales of existing homes, with 95% confidence. Estimate the minimum size sample required. In his experience virtually all houses are re-sold within 40 months, so using the Empirical Rule he will estimate σ by one-sixth the range, or 40/6=6.7. 2. A wildlife manager wishes to estimate the mean length of fish in a large lake, to within one inch, with 80% confidence. Estimate the minimum size sample required. In his experience virtually no fish caught in the lake is over 23 inches long, so using the Empirical Rule he will estimate σ by one-sixth the range, or 23/6=3.8. 3. You wish to estimate the current mean birth weight of all newborns in a certain region, to within 1 ounce (1/16 pound) and with 95% confidence. A sample will cost$400 plus $1.50 for every newborn weighed. You believe the standard deviations of weight to be no more than 1.25 pounds. You have$2,500 to spend on the study.

1. Can you afford the sample required?
2. If not, what are your options?
4. You wish to estimate a population proportion to within three percentage points, at 95% confidence. A sample will cost $500 plus 50 cents for every sample element measured. You have$1,000 to spend on the study.

1. Can you afford the sample required?
2. If not, what are your options?

1. 35
2. 60
3. 139
1.
1. 154
2. 253
3. 3832
2.
1. 165
2. 271
3. 4109
3.
1. 23

2.
3. 62

4.
5. 955

6.
7. 1692

8.
9. 22,301

10.
11. 22,731

12.
1. 5

2.
1. no
2. decrease the confidence level