 The expected value of an unbiased estimator is equal to the parameter whose value is being

estimated. T
 All estimators are biased since sampling errors always exist to some extent. F
 An estimator must be unbiased if you are to use it for statistical analysis. F
 The efficiency of an estimator depends on the variance of the estimator's sampling
distribution. T
 In comparing estimators, the more efficient estimator will have a smaller standard error. T
 A 90 percent confidence interval will be wider than a 95 percent confidence interval, ceteris
paribus. F
 In constructing a confidence interval for the mean, the z distribution provides a result nearly
identical to the t distribution when n is large. T
 The Central Limit Theorem says that, if n exceeds 30, the population will be normal. F
 The Central Limit Theorem says that a histogram of the sample means will have a bell
shape, even if the population is skewed and the sample is small. F
 The confidence level refers to the procedure used to construct the confidence interval,
rather than to the particular confidence interval we have constructed. T
 The Central Limit Theorem guarantees an approximately normal sampling distribution
when n is sufficiently large. T
 A sample of size 5 shows a mean of 45.2 and a sample standard deviation of . T
 As n increases, the width of the confidence interval will decrease, ceteris paribus. T
 As n increases, the standard error decreases. T
 A higher confidence level leads to a narrower confidence interval, ceteris paribus. F
 When the sample standard deviation is used to construct a confidence interval for the mean,
we would use the Student's t distribution instead of the normal distribution. T
 As long as the sample is more than one item, the standard error of the sample mean will be
smaller than the standard deviation of the population. T
 For a sample size of 20, a 95 percent confidence interval using the t distribution would be
wider than one constructed using the z distribution. T
 In constructing a confidence interval for a mean, the width of the interval is dependent on
the sample size, the confidence level, and the population standard deviation. T
 In constructing confidence intervals, it is conservative to use the z distribution when n ≥
30. F
 The Central Limit Theorem can be applied to the sample proportion. T
 The distribution of the sample proportion p = x/n is normal when n ≥ 30. F
 The standard deviation of the sample proportion p = x/n increases as n increases. F
 A 95 percent confidence interval constructed around p will be wider than a 90 percent
confidence interval. T
 The sample proportion is always the midpoint of a confidence interval for the population
proportion. T
 The standard error of the sample proportion is largest when π = .50. T
 The standard error of the sample proportion does not depend on the confidence level. T
 To narrow the confidence interval for π, we can either increase n or decrease the level of
confidence. T
 Ceteris paribus, the narrowest confidence interval for π is achieved when p = 50. F
 The statistic p = x/n may be assumed normally distributed when np ≥ 10 and n(1 - p) ≥ 10.
T
 The Student's t distribution is always symmetric and bell-shaped, but its tails lie above the
normal. T
 The confidence interval half-width when π = .50 is called the margin of error. T
 Based on the Rule of Three, if no events occur in n independent trials we can set the upper
95 percent confidence bound at 3/n. T
 The sample standard deviation s is halfway between the lower and upper confidence limits
for the population σ (i.e., the confidence interval is symmetric around s). F
 In a sample size calculation, if the confidence level decreases, the size of the sample needed
will increase. F
 To calculate the sample size needed for a survey to estimate a proportion, the population
standard deviation σ must be known. F
 Assuming that π = .50 is a quick and conservative approach to use in a sample size
calculation for a proportion. T
 To estimate the required sample size for a proportion, one method is to take a small pilot
sample to estimate π and then apply the sample size formula. T
 To estimate π, you typically need a sample size equal to at least 5 percent of your
population. F
 To estimate a proportion with a 4 percent margin of error and a 95 percent confidence level,
the required sample size is over 800. F
 Approximately 95 percent of the population X values will lie within the 95 percent
confidence interval for the mean. F
 A 99 percent confidence interval has more confidence but less precision than a 95 percent
confidence interval. T
 Sampling variation is not controllable by the statistician. T
 The sample mean is not a random variable when the population parameters are known. F
 The finite population correction factor (FPCF) can be ignored if n = 7 and N = 700. T
 In constructing a confidence interval, the finite population correction factor (FPCF) can be
ignored if samples of 12 items are drawn from a population of 300 items. T
 The finite population correction factor (FPCF) can be ignored when the sample size is large
relative to the population size. T
 A sampling distribution describes the distribution of a statistic.

 As the sample size increases, the standard error of the mean decreases.

 Which statement is most nearly correct, other things being equal? Quadrupling the sample
size roughly halves the standard error of the mean.
51.
 The width of a confidence interval for μ is not affected by the sample mean.

 The Central Limit Theorem (CLT) implies that the distribution of the mean is
approximately normal for large n.

 The owner of Limp Pines Resort wanted to know the average age of its clients. A random
sample of 25 tourists is taken. It shows a mean age of 46 years with a standard deviation of
5 years. The width of a 98 percent CI for the true mean client age is approximately ± 2.492
years.
52.
 In constructing a confidence interval for a mean with unknown variance with a sample of
25 items, Bob used z instead of t. "Well, at least my interval will be wider than necessary,
so it was a conservative error," said he. Is Bob's statement correct? no

 A random sample of 16 ATM transactions at the Last National Bank of Flat Rock revealed
a mean transaction time of 2.8 minutes with a standard deviation of 1.2 minutes. The width
(in minutes) of the 95 percent confidence interval for the true mean transaction time is ±
0.639

 We could narrow a 95 percent confidence interval by using a larger sample.

Learning Objective: 08-

53.
 The owner of Torpid Oaks B&B wanted to know the average distance its guests had
traveled. A random sample of 16 guests showed a mean distance of 85 miles with a standard
deviation of 32 miles. The 90 percent confidence interval (in miles) for the mean is
approximately 71.0, 99.0)
 A highway inspector needs an estimate of the mean weight of trucks crossing a bridge on
the interstate highway system. She selects a random sample of 49 trucks and finds a mean
of 15.8 tons with a sample standard deviation of 3.85 tons. The 90 percent confidence
interval for the population mean is 14.88 to 16.72 tons.
 To determine a 72 percent level of confidence for a proportion, the value of z is
approximately ± 1.08
 To estimate the average annual expenses of students on books and class materials a sample
of size 36 is taken. The sample mean is $850 and the sample standard deviation is $54. A
99 percent confidence interval for the population mean is $825.48 to $874.52
 In constructing a 95 percent confidence interval, if you increase n to 4n, the width of your
confidence interval will (assuming other things remain the same) be about 50 percent of its
former width.
 Which of the following is not a characteristic of the t distribution? It approaches z as
degrees of freedom decrease.
 Which statement is incorrect? Explain If n = 250 and p = .06, we cannot assume normality
in a confidence interval for π.
64.
 What is the approximate width of a 90 percent confidence interval for the true population
proportion if there are 12 successes in a sample of 25? ± .164
 A poll showed that 48 out of 120 randomly chosen graduates of California medical schools
last year intended to specialize in family practice. What is the width of a 90 percent
confidence interval for the proportion that plan to specialize in family practice? ± .0736
 What is the approximate width of an 80 percent confidence interval for the true population
proportion if there are 12 successes in a sample of 80? ± .051
 A random sample of 160 commercial customers of PayMor Lumber revealed that 32 had
paid their accounts within a month of billing. The 95 percent confidence interval for the
true proportion of customers who pay within a month would be 0.138 to 0.262
 A random sample of 160 commercial customers of PayMor Lumber revealed that 32 had
paid their accounts within a month of billing. Can normality be assumed for the sample
proportion? Yes.
 The conservative sample size required for a 95 percent confidence interval for π with an
error of ± 0.04 is 601.
 Last week, 108 cars received parking violations in the main university parking lot. Of these,
27 had unpaid parking tickets from a previous violation.
 Assuming that last week was a random sample of all parking violators, find the 95 percent
confidence interval for the percentage of parking violators that have prior unpaid parking
tickets 16.8 to 33.2 percent.
 In a random sample of 810 women employees, it is found that 81 would prefer working for
a female boss. The width of the 95 percent confidence interval for the proportion of women
who prefer a female boss is ± .0207
 Jolly Blue Giant Health Insurance (JBGHI) is concerned about rising lab test costs and
would like to know what proportion of the positive lab tests for prostate cancer are actually
65.
proven correct through subsequent biopsy. JBGHI demands a sample large enough to
ensure an error of ± 2 percent with 90 percent confidence. What is the necessary sample
size ?1,692
 A university wants to estimate the average distance that commuter students travel to get to
class with an error of ± 3 miles and 90 percent confidence. What sample size would be
needed, assuming that travel distances are normally distributed with a range of X = 0 to X
= 50 miles, using the Empirical Rule μ ± 3σ to estimate σ. About 21 students
 A financial institution wishes to estimate the mean balances owed by its credit card
customers. The population standard deviation is $300. If a 99 percent confidence interval
is used and an interval of ± $75 is desired, how many cardholders should be sampled? 107
66.
 A company wants to estimate the time its trucks take to drive from city A to city B. The
standard deviation is known to be 12 minutes. What sample size is required in order that
error will not exceed ± 2 minutes, with 95 percent confidence ?139 observations
 In a large lecture class, the professor announced that the scores on a recent exam were
normally distributed with a range from 51 to 87. Using the Empirical Rule μ ± 3σ to
estimate σ, how many students would you need to sample to estimate the true mean score
for the class with 90 percent confidence and an error of ± 2? About 25 students
 Using the conventional polling definition, find the margin of error for a customer
satisfaction survey of 225 customers who have recently dined at Applebee's.
 ± 6.5 percent
67.
 A marketing firm is asked to estimate the percent of existing customers who would
purchase a "digital upgrade" to their basic cable TV service. The firm wants 99 percent
confidence and an error of ± 5 percent. What is the required sample size (to the next higher
integer)? 664
 An airport traffic analyst wants to estimate the proportion of daily takeoffs by small
business jets (as opposed to commercial passenger jets or other aircraft) with an error of ±
4 percent with 90 percent confidence. What sample size should the analyst use? 423
 Ersatz Beneficial Insurance wants to estimate the cost of damage to cars due to accidents.
The standard deviation of the cost is known to be $200. They want to estimate the mean
cost using a 95 percent confidence interval within ± $10. What is the minimum sample size
n? 2301

Learning Objective: 08-

68.
 Professor York randomly surveyed 240 students at Oxnard University and found that 150
of the students surveyed watch more than 10 hours of television weekly. Develop a 95
percent confidence interval to estimate the true proportion of students who watch more
than 10 hours of television each week. The confidence interval is 564 to .686
 Professor York randomly surveyed 240 students at Oxnard University and found that 150
of the students surveyed watch more than 10 hours of television weekly. How many
additional students would Professor York have to sample to estimate the proportion of all
Oxnard University students who watch more than 10 hours of television each week within
± 3 percent with 99 percent confidence? 1489
 The sample proportion is in the middle of the confidence interval for the population
proportion in any sample.
 For a sample of size 16, the critical values of chi-square for a 95 percent confidence interval
for the population variance are: 6.262, 27.49
89.
 For a sample of size 11, the critical values of chi-square for a 90 percent confidence interval
for the population variance are: 3.940, 18.31
 For a sample of size 18, the critical values of chi-square for a 99 percent confidence interval
for the population variance are:5.697, 35.72
 Which of the following statements is most nearly correct, other things being equal? For a
given confidence level, the z value is always smaller then the t value.
 The Central Limit Theorem (CLT): applies to any population.
 In which situation may the sample proportion safely be assumed to follow a normal
distribution? 12 successes in a sample of 72 items
 In which situation may the sample proportion safely be assumed to follow a normal
distribution? n = 30, π = .50
 If σ = 12, find the sample size to estimate the mean with an error of ± 4 and 95 percent
confidence (rounded to the next higher integer) 35
 If σ = 25, find the sample size to estimate the mean with an error of ±3 and 90 percent
confidence (rounded to the next higher integer). 188
90.
 Sampling error can be avoided: by no method under the statistician's control.
 A consistent estimator for the mean: converges on the true parameter μ as the sample size
increases.
 Concerning confidence intervals, which statement is most nearly correct? We use the
Student's t distribution when σ is unknown.
 The standard error of the mean decreases when: the standard deviation decreases or n
increases.
97.
 For a given sample size, the higher the confidence level, the: greater the interval width.
 A sample is taken and a confidence interval is constructed for the mean of the distribution.
At the center of the interval is always which value? The sample mean
 If a normal population has parameters μ = 40 and σ = 8, then for a sample size n = 4: the
standard error of the sample mean is approximately 4.