Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

B.Tech Aerospace, EC & Engineering Physics, October 2018

MA 311 Probability, Statistics & Numerical Methods
Tutorial - III
1. What is the maximum error one can expect to make with probability 0.90 when using the mean
of a random sample of size n = 64 to estimate the mean of a population with σ 2 = 2.56?

2. In a study of automobile collision insurance costs, a random sample of 80 body repair costs for a
particular kind of damage had a mean of $472.36 and a S.D of $62.35. If x̄ = $472.36 is used as
a point estimate of the true average repair cost of this kind of damage, with what confidence can
one assert that the error does not exceed $10 (Ans: 84.7%).

3. If we want to determine the average mechanical aptitude of a large group of workers, how large
a random sample will we need to be able to assert with probability 0.95 that the sample mean
will not differ from the true mean by more than 3.0 points? Assume that it is known from past
experience that σ = 20.0.

4. The dean of a college wants to use the mean of a random sample to estimate the average amount
of time students take to get from one class to the next, and she wants to be able to assert with
99% confidence that the error is at most 0.25 minute. If it can be presumed from experience that
σ = 1.40 minutes, how large a sample will she have to take? (Ans: n = 208)

5. A random sample of 100 teachers in a large metropolitan area revealed a mean weekly salary of
$487 with a S.D of $48. With what degree of confidence can we assert that the average weekly
salary of all teachers in the metropolitan area is between $472 and $502? (Ans: 99.82%)

6. A random sample of 20 students obtained a mean of x̄ = 72 and a variance of s2 = 16 on a college

placement test in mathematics. Assuming the scores to be normally distributed, construct a 98%
confidence interval for σ 2 .

7. It is desired to test the null hypothesis µ = 100 pounds against the alternative µ < 100 pounds
on the basis of a random sample of size n = 40 from a population with σ 2 = 12. For what values
of X̄ must the null hypothesis be rejected if the probability of a type I error is to be α = 0.01?

8. How large a sample must we take if it is desired to test the null hypothesis µ = 100 against the
alternative hypothesis µ 6= 100 on the basis of a random sample from a population with σ = 16,
the probability of a type I error is to be 0.01, and the probability of a type II error is to be 0.20
for µ = 92? (Ans: n = 47)

9. A dry cleaning establishment claims that a new spot remover will remove more than 70% of the
spots to which it is applied. To check this claim, the spot remover will be used on 12 spots chosen
at random. If fewer than 11 of the spots are removed, we shall accept the null hypothesis that
p = 0.7; otherwise we conclude that p > 0.7.

(a) Evaluate α, assuming that p = 0.7.

(b) Evaluate β for the alternative p = 0.9.

10. A random sample of 400 voters in a city are asked if they favour an additional 4% gasoline sales
tax to provide badly needed revenues for street repairs. If more than 220 but fewer than 260 favour
the sales tax, we shall conclude that 60% of the voters are for it.

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 (a) Find the probability of committing a type I error if 60% of the voters favour the increased
tax.
(b) What is the probability of committing a type II error using this test procedure if actually
only 48% of the voters are in favour of the additional gasoline tax?

11. A soft-drink machine at a steak house is regulated so that the amount of drink dispensed is
approximately normally distributed with a mean of 200 millilitres and a S.D of 15 millilitres. The
machine is checked periodically by taking a sample of 9 drinks and computing the average content.
If x̄ falls in the interval 191 < x̄ < 209, the machine is thought to be operating satisfactorily;
otherwise, we conclude that µ 6= 200 millilitres.

(a) Find the probability of committing a type I error when µ = 200 millilitres.
(b) Find the probability of committing a type II error when µ = 215 millilitres.

(Ans: α = 0.0718, β = 0.1151)

12. A new cure has been developed for a certain type of cement that results in a compressive strength
of 5000kg/cm2 ? and a S.D of 120. To test µ = 5000 against µ < 5000, a random sample of 50
pieces of cement is tested. The critical region is defined to be x̄ < 4970.

(a) Find the probability of committing a type I error. (α = 0.0384)

(b) Evaluate β for the alternatives µ = 4970 and µ = 4960. (β = 0.5; 0.2776)

13. An electrical firm manufactures light bulbs that have a life time that is approximately normally
distributed with a mean of 800 hours and a S.D of 40 hours. Test the hypothesis that µ = 800
hours against the alternative µ 6= 800 hours if a random sample of 30 bulbs has an average life of
788 hours.

14. A random sample of 64 bags of White Cheddar Popcorn weighed, on average, 5.23 ounces with a
S.D of 0.24 ounces. Test the hypothesis that µ = 5.5 ounces against µ < 5.5 ounces at the 0.05
level of significance. How large a sample is required if the power of our test is to be 0.90 when the
true mean is 5.20? Assume that σ = 0.24. (Ans: n = 6)

15. Find the maximum likelihood estimate of θ in the density f (x) = θe−θx if x ≥ 0 and f (x) = 0 if
x < 0.

16. A machine is producing metal pieces that are cylindrical in shape. A sample of 9 pieces is taken
and the diameters are measured as 1.01,0.97,1.03,1.04,0.99,0.98,0.99,1.01, and 1.03 centimetres.
Find a 99% confidence interval for the mean diameter of pieces from this machine, assuming an
approximate normal distribution.

17. The two samples 70, 80, 30, 70, 60, 80 and 140, 120, 130, 120, 120, 130, 120 are values of the
differences of temperatures(in centigrade) of iron at two stages of casting, taken from two different
crucibles. Is the variance of the first population larger than that of the second? Assume normality.
Choose α = 0.05.

18. Test for equality of population means against the alternative that the means are different , as-
suming normality, choosing α = 0.05 and using two samples of size 12 and 18, with means 10 and
14, respectively, and equal standard deviation 3.

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