Mathematics 9709 · AS & A Level · Sampling and estimation

Sampling and estimation — practice question

The masses of animals from one particular species are assumed to follow a normal distribution with standard deviation $\sigma$ kg. A researcher takes the masses of a random sample of $n$ animals of this species and uses them to construct two confidence intervals ($\alpha\%$ and 90%) for the population mean. The width of the $\alpha\%$ confidence interval is 1.414 times as large as the width of the 90% confidence interval.
(a)[3]

Determine $\alpha$.

(b)[1]

Find the probability that the 90% confidence interval includes the population mean, given that the $\alpha\%$ confidence interval includes the population mean.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 4-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: From $2z\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt n}=1.414\times2\times1.645\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt n}$, we obtain $z=1.414\times1.645=2.326$

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