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Confidence Interval for Population Mean (μ): Construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean (μ). Given a sample of 25 randomly selected English majors with a mean test score of 81.5 and a standard deviation of 10.2. A) 81.5 ± 2.06 B) 81.5 ± 4.12 C) 81.5 ± 3.15 D) 81.5 ± 5.00

User Foxesque
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Final answer:

The confidence interval with the provided data (mean = 81.5, SD = 10.2, sample size = 25, z-score = 1.96) is 81.5 ± 4.12 . Option b is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

To construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean (μ), we use the formula:

Confidence Interval = μ ± (z* × (SD/√N))

Where:

  • μ is the sample mean
  • z* is the z-score for the desired confidence level
  • SD is the sample standard deviation
  • N is the sample size

In the given problem, we have a sample mean (μ) of 81.5, a standard deviation (SD) of 10.2, and a sample size (N) of 25. For a 95% confidence level, the z-score (z*) is approximately 1.96 when using the standard normal (Z) distribution.

Let's calculate:

The standard error:

SE = SD/√N)

= 10.2 / √25

= 10.2 / 5

= 2.04

The margin of error (MOE = z* × SE)

= 1.96 × 2.04

≈ 4.12

Therefore, the confidence interval is μ ± MOE = 81.5 ± 4.00

So the 95% confidence interval for the population mean (μ) is (81.5 - 4.12, 81.5 + 4.12)

Hence, option B is correct.

User Edsamiracle
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