Q234 · Practice questionTechnology-activeComplex familiar5 marks
QUESTION 234 (5 marks)
A 90% mean confidence interval uses z=1.645 and n=64. A new study uses 95% confidence, z=1.96, with the same assumed standard deviation.
a)[3 marks]
Find the least sample size ensuring the new interval is no wider.
b)[2 marks]
Explain the width change at unchanged sample size and give the width ratio.
WORKED SOLUTION
5 marksPractice marking scheme
ANSWER
(a) . (b) .
Worked solution
(a) Width is . Requiring gives . Round upwards to 91.
(b) At unchanged n and s, width is proportional to z. Increasing confidence requires a larger critical value, so the interval is about 19.15 percent wider.
Equivalent mathematically justified methods accepted.
Exact answers unless a decimal accuracy is specified.
Part a: Compare widths with fixed s.
Part a: Obtain the sample-size threshold.
Part a: Round up to 91.
Part b: Find the critical-value ratio.
Part b: Explain higher confidence and increased width.
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