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2/ If the error of the CI for the proportion of people supporting the new rule is 0,057 , find the
confidence level.
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A/ Population mean: (Exercises 5a page 276 ; 12,13,14,15 page 283 ; 34,36a,37a page 293 ; 48,49c
page 297)
52.(5a) Assume that the helium porosity (in percentage) of coal samples taken from any particular seam
is normally distributed with true standard deviation .75. Compute a 95% CI for the true average porosity
of a certain seam if the average porosity for 20 specimens from the seam was 4.85
Solution:
Let  be the true average porosity of a certain seam

n  20  40 ;   0.75 is known ; x  4.85  CASE 1

  1 0.95  1
Confidence level:   0.95   ( )    0.975  z /2  1.96
2 2
 0.75
Error:   z / 2  1.96  0.3287019927
n 20

CI for the true average porosity of a certain seam:   (x   ; x   )    (4.521298007; 5.178701993)

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53.(12) A random sample of 110 lightning flashes in a certain region resulted in a sample average radar
echo duration of .81 sec and a sample standard deviation of .34 sec (“Lightning Strikes to an Airplane in a
Thunderstorm,” J. of Aircraft, 1984: 607–611). Calculate a 99% (two-sided) confidence interval for the
true average echo duration  , and interpret the resulting interval.
Ans: (0.7263623; 0.8936377)
Solution:
Let  be the true average echo duration

n  110  40 ;  is unknown ; x  0.81 ; s  0.34  CASE 2

  1 0.99  1
Confidence level:   0.99   ( )    0.995  z /2  2.58
2 2
s 0.34
Error:   z /2  2.58  0.0836377
n 110

CI for the true average echo duration:   (x   ; x   )    (0.7263623; 0.8936377)

54.(13) The article “Gas Cooking, Kitchen Ventilation, and Exposure to Combustion Products” (Indoor

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Air, 2006: 65–73) reported that for a sample of 50 kitchens with gas cooking appliances monitored during
a one-week period, the sample mean CO2 level (ppm) was 654.16, and the sample standard deviation was
164.43.
a. Calculate and interpret a 95% (two-sided) confidence interval for true average CO2 level in the
population of all homes from which the sample was selected.
Ans: (608.5823293; 699.7376707)
Solution:
Let  be the true average CO2 level in the population of all homes

n  50  40 ;  is unknown ; x  654.16 ; s  164.43  CASE 2

  1 0.95  1
Confidence level:   0.95   ( )    0.975  z /2  1.96
2 2
s
Error:   z / 2  45.57767067
n

CI for the true average echo duration:   (x   ; x   )    (608.5823293; 699.7376707)

b. Suppose the investigators had made a rough guess of 175 for the value of s before collecting data.
What sample size would be necessary to obtain an interval width of 50 ppm for a confidence level of
95%?
Ans: 189
Solution:
Type: CI for tue true average echo duration
s= 175; w=50
  1 0.95  1
Confidence level:   0.95   ( )    0.975  z /2  1.96
2 2
We have :
w  2
s s2
w  2 z / 2  n  4 z 2 / 2 . 2  189
n w
55.(14) The article “Evaluating Tunnel Kiln Performance” (Amer.Ceramic Soc. Bull., Aug. 1997: 59–63)
gave the following summary information for fracture strengths (MPa) of ceramic bars fired in a particular

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kiln: x  89.1 ; s  3.73 ; n=169

a. Calculate a (two-sided) confidence interval for true average fracture strength using a confidence level
of 95%. Does it appear that true average fracture strength has been precisely estimated?
b. Suppose the investigators had believed a priori that the population standard deviation was about 4
MPa. Based on this supposition, how large a sample would have been required to estimate  to within .5
MPa with 95% confidence?
56.(15) Determine the confidence level for each of the following large-sample one-sided confidence
bounds:

57.(34) A sample of 14 joint specimens of a particular type gave a sample mean proportional limit stress
of 8.48 MPa and a sample standard deviation of .79 MPa (“Characterization of Bearing Strength Factors
in Pegged Timber Connections,” J. of Structural Engr., 1997: 326–332).
a. Calculate and interpret a 95% lower confidence bound for the true average proportional limit stress of
all such joints. What, if any, assumptions did you make about the distribution of proportional limit stress?
bỏ b. Calculate and interpret a 95% lower prediction bound for the proportional limit stress of a single
joint of this type.
58.(36 a) The n  26 observations on escape time give a sample mean and sample standard deviation of
370.69 and 24.36, respectively. Calculate an upper confidence bound for population mean escape time
using a confidence level of 95%.
59.(37) A study of the ability of individuals to walk in a straight line (“Can We Really Walk Straight?”
Amer. J. of Physical
Anthro., 1992: 19–27) reported the accompanying data on cadence (strides per second) for a sample of
n  20 randomly selected healthy men

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A normal probability plot gives substantial support to the assumption that the population distribution of
cadence is approximately normal. Calculate and interpret a 95% confidence interval for population mean
cadence.
60.(48) A triathlon consisting of swimming, cycling, and running is one of the more strenuous amateur
sporting events. The article “Cardiovascular and Thermal Response of Triathlon Performance” (Medicine
and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1988: 385–389) reports on a research study involving nine male
triathletes. Maximum heart rate (beats/min) was recorded during performance of each of the three events.
For swimming, the sample mean and sample standard deviation were 188.0 and 7.2, respectively.
Assuming that the heart-rate distribution is (approximately) normal, construct a 98% CI for true mean
heart rate of triathletes while swimming.
61.(49) For each of 18 preserved cores from oil-wet carbonate reservoirs, the amount of residual gas
saturation after a solvent injection was measured at water flood-out. Observations, in percentage of pore
volume, were
23.5 31.5 34.0 46.7 45.6 32.5
41.4 37.2 42.5 46.9 51.5 36.4
44.5 35.7 33.5 39.3 22.0 51.2
(See “Relative Permeability Studies of Gas-Water Flow Following Solvent Injection in Carbonate
Rocks,” Soc. Of Petroleum Engineers J., 1976: 23–30.)
B. Population proportion: (Exercise 19,20,21,22,23,25a page 284 ; 51a,54,56b page 297)
62.(19) The article “Limited Yield Estimation for Visual Defect Sources” (IEEE Trans. on
Semiconductor Manuf., 1997: 17–23) reported that, in a study of a particular wafer inspection process,
356 dies were examined by an inspection probe and 201 of these passed the probe. Assuming a stable
process, calculate a 95% (two-sided) confidence interval for the proportion of all dies that pass the probe.
Solution:
Let p be the proportion of all dies that pass the probe
n  356 ; m  201

m 201
Sample proportion: 
p 
n 356

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  1 0.95  1
Confidence level:   0.95   ( )    0.975  z /2  1.96
2 2

p (1 p )
Error:   z /2 =0.0515044
n

CI for the true average echo duration: p  (p  ; p   )  p  (0.5131023; 0.6161111)

63.(20) The Associated Press (October 9, 2002) reported that in a survey of 4722 American youngsters
aged 6 to 19, 15% were seriously overweight (a body mass index of at least 30; this index is a measure of
weight relative to height). Calculate and interpret a confidence interval using a 99% confidence level for
the proportion of all American youngsters who are seriously overweight.
Ans: (0.5131; 0.6161)
Solution:
Let p be the proportion of all American youngsters who are seriously overweight.
n  4722 ;

Sample proportion: 
p  15%
  1 0.99  1
Confidence level:   0.99   ( )    0.995  z /2  2.58
2 2

p (1 p )
Error:   z /2 =0.0515044
n

CI for the true average echo duration: p  (p  ; p   )  p  (0.5131023; 0.6161111)

64.(21) In a sample of 1000 randomly selected consumers who had opportunities to send in a rebate claim
form after purchasing a product, 250 of these people said they never did so (“Rebates: Get What You
Deserve,” Consumer Reports,May 2009: 7). Reasons cited for their behavior included too many steps in
the process, amount too small, missed deadline, fear of being placed on a mailing list, lost receipt, and
doubts about receiving the money. Calculate an upper confidence bound at the 95% confidence level for
the true proportion of such consumers who never apply for a rebate. Based on this bound, is there
compelling evidence that the true proportion of such consumers is smaller than 1/3? Explain your
reasoning.

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65.(22) The technology underlying hip replacements has changed as these operations have become more
popular (over 250,000 in the United States in 2008). Starting in 2003, highly durable ceramic hips were
marketed. Unfortunately, for too many patients the increased durability has been counterbalanced by an
increased incidence of squeaking. The May 11, 2008, issue of the New York Times reported that in one
study of 143 individuals who received ceramic hips between 2003 and 2005, 10 of the hips developed
squeaking.
Calculate a lower confidence bound at the 95% confidence level for the true proportion of such hips that
develop squeaking.
66.(23) The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported on Dec. 9, 2009, that in a survey of 2003
American adults, 25% said they believed in astrology.
a. Calculate and interpret a confidence interval at the 99% confidence level for the proportion of all adult
Americans who believe in astrology.
b. What sample size would be required for the width of a 99% CI to be at most .05 irrespective of the

value of p ?
67.(25) ( bỏ) A state legislator wishes to survey residents of her district to see what proportion of the
electorate is aware of her position on using state funds to pay for abortions. What sample size is
necessary if the 95% CI for p is to have a width of at most .10 irrespective of p?
68.(51) An April 2009 survey of 2253 American adults conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet
& American Life Project revealed that 1262 of the respondents had at some point used wireless means for
online access. Calculate and interpret a 95% CI for the proportion of all American adults who at the time
of the survey had used wireless means for online access.
69.(54) It is important that face masks used by firefighters be able to withstand high temperatures because
firefighters commonly work in temperatures of 200–500°F. In a test of one type of mask, 11 of 55 masks
had lenses pop out at 250°. Construct a 90% CI for the true proportion of masks of this type whose lenses
would pop out at 250°.
70.(56b) Chronic exposure to asbestos fiber is a well-known health hazard. The article “The Acute
Effects of Chrysotile Asbestos Exposure on Lung Function” (Environ. Research,1978: 360–372) reports
results of a study based on a sample of construction workers who had been exposed to asbestos over a

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