Final answer:
To find the critical value for a 90% confidence interval, we use the z-score corresponding to the desired confidence level. For a 90% confidence level, the critical value is approximately ($51.613, $64.447).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the 90% confidence interval for the mean repair cost for the dryers, we first need to determine the critical value that should be used in constructing the confidence interval. We’ll use the standard normal distribution (Z-distribution) for this calculation.
Step 1 of 2: Find the critical value that should be used in constructing the confidence interval.
We can use the following formula to find the critical value (z) for a 90% confidence interval:
z = Zα/2
where Zα/2 is the critical value from the standard normal distribution table that corresponds to α/2 (which is 0.05/2 = 0.025 for a 90% confidence interval).
Using a standard normal distribution table or calculator, we find that the critical value (z) for a 90% confidence interval is approximately 1.645.
Step 2 of 2: Calculate the margin of error and the confidence interval.
To calculate the margin of error (ME), we use the following formula:
ME = z * (standard deviation / √n)
where z is the critical value found in Step 1, the standard deviation is $26.34, and n is the sample size (27 dryers).
ME = 1.645 * (26.34 / √27) ≈ 6.417
Now, we can calculate the 90% confidence interval for the mean repair cost for the dryers:
Lower limit = sample mean - ME = $58.03 - $6.417 ≈ $51.613 Upper limit = sample mean + ME = $58.03 + $6.417 ≈ $64.447
So, the 90% confidence interval for the mean repair cost for the dryers is approximately ($51.613, $64.447).