Question

A researcher examines 27 sedimentary samples for bromide concentration. The mean bromide concentration for the sample data is 0.383 cc/cubic meter with a standard deviation of 0.0209. Determine the 90% confidence interval for the population mean bromide concentration. Assume the population is approximately normal. Step 1 of 2 : Find the critical value that should be used in constructing the confidence interval. Round your answer to three decimal places.

Answer 1

Answer:

Critical value: $z = 1.645$

The 90% confidence interval for the population mean bromide concentration is (0.376, 0.39).

Step-by-step explanation:

We have that to find our $\alpha$ level, that is the subtraction of 1 by the confidence interval divided by 2. So:

$\alpha = \frac{1-0.9}{2} = 0.05$

Now, we have to find z in the Ztable as such z has a pvalue of $1-\alpha$.

So it is z with a pvalue of $1-0.05 = 0.95$, so $z = 1.645$. This value of z is the critical value

Now, find M as such

$M = z*\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}$

In which $\sigma$ is the standard deviation of the population and n is the size of the sample.

$M = 1.645*\frac{0.0209}{\sqrt{27}} = 0.0066$

The lower end of the interval is the mean subtracted by M. So it is 0.383 - 0.0066 = 0.376 cc/cubic meter

The upper end of the interval is the mean added to M. So it is 0.383 + 0.0066 = 0.39 cc/cubic meter

The 90% confidence interval for the population mean bromide concentration is (0.376, 0.39).