Question

Considering the following scenario, which method would be most appropriate when calculating the margin of error for the population mean?

A research scholar wants to know how many times per hour a certain strand of germ reproduces. He obtains information from 47 strands of this particular germ and finds the mean to be 7.8 with a population standard deviation known to be 2.3. The population is assumed to be uniformly distributed.

A. Normal z-distribution
B. Student's t-distribution
C. More advanced statistical techniques

Answer 1

Because of the fact that

there is no information about population standard deviation, we cannot use normal z-distribution, we have to use students t-distribution using sample standard deviation as an unbiased estimator of population standard deviation.