ESTADISTICA II

TALLER 03

SECTION I. Mean estimation (small samples) (2 pts).

Problem 1
According to the article “Fatigue Testing of Condoms”, “tests currently used for condoms are surrogates
for the challenges they face in use,” including a test for holes, and inflation test, a package seal test, and
tests of dimensions and lubricant quality. The investigators developed a new test that adds cyclic strain
to a level below breakage and determines the number of cycles to break. A sample of 20 condoms of one
particular type resulted in a sample mean number of 1584 and a sample standard deviation of 607.
Calculate and interpret a confidence interval at the 99% confidence level for the true average number of
cycles to break.

Problem 2
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. 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?

Problem 3
The article “Measuring and Understanding the Aging of Kraft Insulating Paper in Power Transformers”
(IEEE Electrical Insul. Mag., 1996: 28–34) contained the following observations on degree of
polymerization for paper specimens for which viscosity times concentration fell in a certain middle range:

418 421 421 422 447 431

434 437 439 446 427 453
454 463 465 425 448

Calculate a two-sided 95% confidence interval for true average degree of polymerization (as did the
authors of the article). Does the interval suggest that 440 is a plausible value for true average degree of
polymerization? What about 450?

SECTION II. Population proportion (1.5 pts).

Problem 4
A sample of 56 research cotton samples resulted in a sample average percentage elongation of 8.17 and
a sample standard deviation of 1.42 (“An Apparent Relation Between the Spiral Angle f, the Percent
Elongation E1, and the Dimensions of the Cotton Fiber,” Textile Research J., 1978: 407–410). Calculate
a 95% large-sample CI for the true average percentage elongation m. What assumptions are you making
about the distribution of percentage elongation?
ESTADISTICA II
TALLER 03

Problem 5
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.
a. What sample size is necessary if the 95% CI for 𝑝 is to have a width of at most . 10 irrespective of
𝑝?
b. If the legislator has strong reason to believe that at least 2/3 of the electorate know of her
position, how large a sample size would you recommend?

SECTION III. Popuation variance (1.5 pts).

Problem 6
The amount of lateral expansion (mils) was determined for a sample of 𝑛 = 9 pulsed-power gas metal
arc welds used in LNG ship containment tanks. The resulting sample standard deviation was 𝑠 = 2.81
mils. Assuming normality, derive a 95% CI for 𝜎 2 and for𝜎.

Problem 7
Wire electrical-discharge machining (WEDM) is a process used to manufacture conductive hard metal
components. It uses a continuously moving wire that serves as an electrode. Coating on the wire electrode
allows for cooling of the wire electrode core and provides an improved cutting performance. The article
“High- Performance Wire Electrodes for Wire Electrical- Discharge Machining—A Review” (J. of Engr.
Manuf., 2012: 1757–1773) gave the following sample observations on total coating layer thickness (in
mm) of eight wire electrodes used for WEDM: 21, 16, 29, 35, 42, 24, 24, 25.

Calculate a 99% CI for the standard deviation of the coating layer thickness distribution. Is this interval
valid whatever the nature of the distribution? Explain.