Question

A random sample of 36 students at a community college showed an average age of 25 years. Assume the ages of all students at the college are normally distributed with a standard deviation of 1.8 years. The 98% confidence interval for the average age of all students at this college is _____.

Answer 1

Answer:

98% confidence interval for the average age of all students is [24.302 , 25.698]

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given that a random sample of 36 students at a community college showed an average age of 25 years.

Also, assuming that the ages of all students at the college are normally distributed with a standard deviation of 1.8 years.

So, the pivotal quantity for 98% confidence interval for the average age is given by;

             P.Q. = $\frac{\bar X - \mu}{\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} } }$ ~ N(0,1)

where, $\bar X$ = sample average age = 25 years

            $\sigma$ = population standard deviation = 1.8 years

            n = sample of students = 36

            $\mu$ = population average age

So, 98% confidence interval for the average age, $\mu$ is ;

P(-2.3263 < N(0,1) < 2.3263) = 0.98

P(-2.3263 < $\frac{\bar X - \mu}{\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} } }$ < 2.3263) = 0.98

P( $-2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ < ${\bar X - \mu}$ < $2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ ) = 0.98

P( $\bar X - 2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ < $\mu$ < $\bar X +2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ ) = 0.98

98% confidence interval for $\mu$ = [ $\bar X - 2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ , $\bar X +2.3263 \times {\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n} }$ ]

                                                  = [ $25 - 2.3263 \times {\frac{1.8}{\sqrt{36} }$ , $25 + 2.3263 \times {\frac{1.8}{\sqrt{36} }$ ]

                                                  = [24.302 , 25.698]

Therefore, 98% confidence interval for the average age of all students at this college is [24.302 , 25.698].