© 2017 W.H.

Freeman and Company

Suppose a population can be described with a Normal
distribution with 𝜇 = 20 and 𝜎 = 1.1. In this example, 𝜇 is a

a. statistic.
b. parameter.
c. distribution.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

Suppose a population can be described with a Normal
distribution with 𝜇 = 20 and 𝜎 = 1.1. In this example, 𝜇 is a

a. statistic.
b. parameter. (correct)
c. distribution.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

A survey is conducted of 300 likely voters. The proportion,
𝑝Ƹ = .52
for a particular candidate is an example of a

a. statistic.
b. parameter.
c. distribution.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

A survey is conducted of 300 likely voters. The proportion,
𝑝Ƹ = .52
for a particular candidate is an example of a

a. statistic. (correct)
b. parameter.
c. distribution.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

If the sampling distribution of a statistic is centered near the
true parameter being estimated, we would say it has small

a. bias.
b. variability.
c. margin of error.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

If the sampling distribution of a statistic is centered near the
true parameter being estimated, we would say it has small

a. bias. (correct)
b. variability.
c. margin of error.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

Interest is in estimating a population mean. Which of the
following sample sizes would have the lowest variability in
the sampling distribution?

a. 10
b. 100
c. 1000

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

Interest is in estimating a population mean. Which of the
following sample sizes would have the lowest variability in
the sampling distribution?

a. 10
b. 100
c. 1000 (correct)

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

A population distribution has a mean of 100 and variance of
16. The mean of the sampling distribution with sample of
size 25 would be

a. 4.
b. 100.
c. 0.8.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

A population distribution has a mean of 100 and variance of
16. The mean of the sampling distribution with sample of
size 25 would be

a. 4.
b. 100. (correct)
c. 0.8.

5.1 Towards Statistical Inference

A population distribution has a mean of 100 and variance of
16. The standard deviation of the sampling distribution with
a sample of size 25 would be

a. 0.64.
b. 4.
c. 0.8.

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
A population distribution has a mean of 100 and variance of
16. The standard deviation of the sampling distribution with
a sample of size 25 would be

a. 0.64.
b. 4. 16
c. 0.8. (correct) 25

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The scores of individual students on the ACT Program
composite college entrance examination have a Normal
distribution with mean 18.6 and standard deviation 6.0. At
Northside High, 36 seniors take the test. If the scores at
this school have the same distribution as national scores,
the sampling distribution of the average (sample mean)
score for the 36 students is

a. approximately Normal, but the approximation is poor.

b. approximately Normal, and the approximation is good.
c. exactly normal.
5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the
Sample Mean
The scores of individual students on the ACT Program
composite college entrance examination have a Normal
distribution with mean 18.6 and standard deviation 6.0. At
Northside High, 36 seniors take the test. If the scores at
this school have the same distribution as national scores,
the sampling distribution of the average (sample mean)
score for the 36 students is

a. approximately Normal, but the approximation is poor.

b. approximately Normal, and the approximation is good.
c. exactly normal. (correct)
5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the
Sample Mean
Incomes in a certain town are strongly right-skewed with
mean $36,000 and standard deviation $7000. A random
sample of 75 households is taken. What is the standard
deviation of the sample mean?

a. $808.29
b. $93.33
c. $7000

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
Incomes in a certain town are strongly right-skewed with
mean $36,000 and standard deviation $7000. A random
sample of 75 households is taken. What is the standard
deviation of the sample mean?

a. $808.29 (correct) 7000

b. $93.33
 =
x
=
n 75
c. $7000

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
Incomes in a certain town are strongly right-skewed with
mean $36,000 and standard deviation $7000. A random
sample of 75 households is taken.
What is the probability that the sample mean is greater
than $37,000?

a. 0.4432
b. 0.1080
c. 0

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
Incomes in a certain town are strongly right-skewed with
mean $36,000 and standard deviation $7000. A random
sample of 75 households is taken.
What is the probability that the sample mean is greater
than $37,000?

a. 0.4432
 7000 
P  x  37000 |  = 36000, = 
b. 0.1080 (correct)  75 
c. 0

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The contents of bottles of juice are Normally distributed
with a mean of 300 ml and a standard deviation of 5 ml.
There is a 6.3% chance that the average contents of a six-
pack will exceed how many ml?

a. 301.11
b. 302.12
c. 303.12

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The contents of bottles of juice are Normally distributed
with a mean of 300 ml and a standard deviation of 5 ml.
There is a 6.3% chance that the average contents of a six-
pack will exceed how many ml?

a. 301.11 Z = 1.53
b. 302.12 X − 300
1.53 = = 303.12 ml
c. 303.12 (correct) 5
6

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The contents of bottles of juice are Normally distributed
with a mean of 300 ml and a standard deviation of 5 ml.
What is the probability that the contents of an individual
bottle will be between 294 ml and 306 ml?

a. 0.5392
b. 0.8419
c. 0.7698

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The contents of bottles of juice are Normally distributed
with a mean of 300 ml and a standard deviation of 5 ml.
What is the probability that the contents of an individual
bottle will be between 294 ml and 306 ml?

a. 0.5392 P (294  X  306)

b. 0.8419 294 − 300
= −1.20 = Z
5
c. 0.7698 (correct) 306 − 300
= 1.20 = Z
5
P (−1.20  Z  1.20) = 0.7698

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The scores of individual students on the American College Testing
(ACT) Program composite college entrance examination have a Normal
distribution with mean that varies slightly from year to year and
standard deviation 6.0. You plan to take an SRS of size n of the
students who took the ACT exam this year and compute the mean
score of the students in your sample. You will use this to estimate the
mean score of all students this year. In order for the standard deviation
of 𝑥 to be no more than 0.1, how large should n be?

a. at least 60
b. at least 3600
c. This cannot be determined because we do not know the true mean
of the population.

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
The scores of individual students on the American College Testing
(ACT) Program composite college entrance examination have a Normal
distribution with mean that varies slightly from year to year and
standard deviation 6.0. You plan to take an SRS of size n of the
students who took the ACT exam this year and compute the mean
score of the students in your sample. You will use this to estimate the
mean score of all students this year. In order for the standard deviation
of 𝑥 to be no more than 0.1, how large should n be?

2
6
  = 3600
a. at least 60
b. at least 3600 (correct)  .1 
c. This cannot be determined because we do not know the true mean
of the population.

5.2 The Sampling Distribution for the

Sample Mean
Which of the following situations follow a binomial
distribution?
I. Recording the sex of 50 births at the local hospital.
II. A coin is flipped until there is a “head.”
III. A deck of 52 cards is flipped until we see a “heart.”

a. I only
b. I and II only
c. I, II, and III only

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
Which of the following situations follow a binomial
distribution?
I. Recording the sex of 50 births at the local hospital.
II. A coin is flipped until there is a “head.”
III. A deck of 52 cards is flipped until we see a “heart.”

a. I only (correct)
b. I and II only
c. I, II, and III only

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
When a particular penny is held on its edge and spun, the
probability that heads are face up when the coin comes to
rest is 4/9. If the coin is spun four times, the probability that
the coin will come up heads exactly twice is (assume trials
are independent)

a. 16/81.
b. 0.366.
c. 0.061.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
When a particular penny is held on its edge and spun, the
probability that heads are face up when the coin comes to
rest is 4/9. If the coin is spun four times, the probability that
the coin will come up heads exactly twice is (assume trials
are independent)

a. 16/81.  4 4 
2
 4
2

P ( X = 2 | n = 4, p = 4 / 9) =    1 − 
b. 0.366. (correct)  2 9   9

c. 0.061.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
When a particular penny is held on its edge and spun, the
probability that heads are face up when the coin comes to
rest is 4/9. If the coin is spun four times, you would expect
how many heads?

a. 9/16
b. 16/9
c. 2

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
When a particular penny is held on its edge and spun, the
probability that heads are face up when the coin comes to
rest is 4/9. If the coin is spun four times, you would expect
how many heads?

a. 9/16
b. 16/9 (correct) E ( X = 2 | n = 4, p = 4 / 9) = 4* 4 / 9

c. 2

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
You decide to test a friend for ESP using a standard deck of 52 playing
cards. Such a deck contains 13 spades, 13 hearts, 13 diamonds, and
13 clubs. You shuffle the deck, select a card at random, and ask your
friend to tell you whether the card is a spade, heart, diamond, or club.
After the guess, you return the card to the deck, shuffle the cards, and
repeat the above. You do this a total of 100 times. Let X be the number
of correct guesses by your friend in the 100 trials. The standard
deviation of X is

a. 0.433.
b. 4.33.
c. 18.75.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
You decide to test a friend for ESP using a standard deck of 52 playing
cards. Such a deck contains 13 spades, 13 hearts, 13 diamonds, and
13 clubs. You shuffle the deck, select a card at random, and ask your
friend to tell you whether the card is a spade, heart, diamond, or club.
After the guess, you return the card to the deck, shuffle the cards, and
repeat the above. You do this a total of 100 times. Let X be the number
of correct guesses by your friend in the 100 trials. The standard
deviation of X is

a. 0.433.
b. 4.33. (correct) 100  (0.25)(0.75)
c. 18.75.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
Which of the following might be reasonably modeled by the binomial
distribution?

a. the number of customers that enter a store in a 1 hour period,

assuming customers enter independently
b. the number of questions you get correct on a 100-question multiple-
choice exam in which each question has only four possible answers
(assume you have studied extensively for the test)
c. none of the above

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
Which of the following might be reasonably modeled by the binomial
distribution?

a. the number of customers that enter a store in a 1 hour period,

assuming customers enter independently
b. the number of questions you get correct on a 100-question multiple-
choice exam in which each question has only four possible answers
(assume you have studied extensively for the test)
c. none of the above (correct)

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
There are 20 multiple-choice questions on an exam, each
having responses a, b, c, or d. Each question is worth 5
points, and only one response per question is correct.
Suppose a student guesses the answer to each question,
and her guesses from question to question are
independent. If the student needs at least 40 points to pass
the test, the probability the student passes is closest to

a. 0.0609.
b. 0.1019.
c. 0.9590.
5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts
and Proportions
There are 20 multiple-choice questions on an exam, each
having responses a, b, c, or d. Each question is worth 5
points, and only one response per question is correct.
Suppose a student guesses the answer to each question,
and her guesses from question to question are
independent. If the student needs at least 40 points to pass
the test, the probability the student passes is closest to

a. 0.0609.
b. 0.1019. (correct)
P( x  8) = 1 − P( x  7)
c. 0.9590.
5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts
and Proportions
A backpacking party carries five emergency flares, each of
which will light with a probability of 0.80. What is the
probability that, at most, two will light?

a. 0.058
b. 0.057
c. 0.059

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A backpacking party carries five emergency flares, each of
which will light with a probability of 0.80. What is the
probability that, at most, two will light?

a. 0.058
You can use the binomial formula or
b. 0.057 (correct) the tables in the book.
c. 0.059

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free trial samples are
offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then it has approximately an

a. 𝑁 0.2, .2 .8 = 0.4 distribution

.2 .8
b. 𝑁(0.2, = 0.04) distribution
100

c. 𝑁 0.2, 100 .2 .8 = 4 distribution

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free trial samples are
offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then it has approximately an

a. 𝑁 0.2, .2 .8 = 0.4 distribution

.𝟐 .𝟖
b. 𝑵(𝟎. 𝟐, = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒) distribution (correct)
𝟏𝟎𝟎

c. 𝑁 0.2, 100 .2 .8 = 4 distribution

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free samples are
offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then the probability that fewer
than 30% buy a packet after tasting a free sample is approximately (do
not use the continuity correction)

a. 0.3000
b. 0.9938
c. none of the above

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free samples are
offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then the probability that fewer
than 30% buy a packet after tasting a free sample is approximately (do
not use the continuity correction)

a. 0.3000
P( pˆ  0.3 |  = 0.2, = .04)
b. 0.9938 (correct)
c. none of the above

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
 C

As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free samples are

offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then the probability that fewer
than 30% buy a packet after tasting a free sample is approximately (do
not use the continuity correction)

a. 0.3000
b. 0.9938
c. none of the above

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
 C

As part of a promotion for a new type of cracker, free samples are

offered to shoppers in a local supermarket. The probability that a
shopper will buy a packet of crackers after tasting the free sample is
0.200. Different shoppers can be regarded as independent trials.
If 𝑝Ƹ is the proportion of the next 100 shoppers who buy a packet of the
crackers after tasting a free sample, then the probability that fewer
than 30% buy a packet after tasting a free sample is approximately (do
not use the continuity correction)
Binomial : P ( x  30 | n = 100, p = 0.2)
Normal : P( pˆ  0.3 |  = 0.2, = .04)
a. 0.3000
b. 0.9938 (correct)
c. none of the above

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
In a pre-election poll, 400 of the 500 probable voters polled
favored the incumbent. In this poll, the sample proportion,
𝑝,Ƹ of those favoring the challenger is

a. 0.80.
b. 0.20.
c. 0.50.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
In a pre-election poll, 400 of the 500 probable voters polled
favored the incumbent. In this poll, the sample proportion,
𝑝,Ƹ of those favoring the challenger is

a. 0.80.
b. 0.20. (correct)
c. 0.50.

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
It is known that 20% of a certain type of scratch-and-win
tickets are winners. If you buy 10 tickets, what is the
probability that at least two of them are winners?

a. 0.107
b. 0.625
c. 0.268

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
It is known that 20% of a certain type of scratch-and-win
tickets are winners. If you buy 10 tickets, what is the
probability that at least two of them are winners?

a. 0.107
b. 0.625 (correct) from Table C = 1 – (0.107 + 0.268)

c. 0.268

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
It is known that 20% of a certain type of scratch-and-win
tickets are winners. If you buy 100 tickets, what is the
approximate probability that at least 25 of them are
winners?

a. 0.1056
b. 0.1539
c. 0.2061

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
It is known that 20% of a certain type of scratch-and-win
tickets are winners. If you buy 100 tickets, what is the
approximate probability that at least 25 of them are
winners?

a. 0.1056 (correct)
b. 0.1539 from Table A = Z = 1.25, area = 0.8944,
then (1 – 0.8944) = 0.1056
c. 0.2061

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
We want to take a sample of 100 items out of a large batch
for quality-control purposes. Based on past history, the
proportion of defective items is 4%.
Can we use the Normal approximation to the binomial
distribution to find the probability of finding more than five
defective items in the sample of 100?

a. yes, because n is large

b. no
c. we do not have enough information

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
We want to take a sample of 100 items out of a large batch
for quality-control purposes. Based on past history, the
proportion of defective items is 4%.
Can we use the Normal approximation to the binomial
distribution to find the probability of finding more than five
defective items in the sample of 100?

a. yes, because n is large

b. no (correct) np = 100(0.04)  10

c. we do not have enough information

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A national poll of 600 men announced that the proportion in
the survey who claimed to help their wives at home was
85%. If we took a larger
poll of 1200 men, what will be the standard deviation of the
number of men who help at home, based on the first
survey?

a. 12.37
b. 17.32
c. 153

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A national poll of 600 men announced that the proportion in
the survey who claimed to help their wives at home was
85%. If we took a larger
poll of 1200 men, what will be the standard deviation of the
number of men who help at home, based on the first
survey?

a. 12.37 (correct)  = npq

b. 17.32
c. 153

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
From previous polls, it is believed that 66% of likely voters
prefer the incumbent. A new poll of 500 likely voters will be
conducted. In the new poll, if the proportion favoring the
incumbent has not changed, what is the mean and
standard deviation of the number preferring the incumbent?

a.  = 330,  = 10.59
b.  = 0.66,  = 0.021
c.  = 330,  = 18.17

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
From previous polls, it is believed that 66% of likely voters
prefer the incumbent. A new poll of 500 likely voters will be
conducted. In the new poll, if the proportion favoring the
incumbent has not changed, what is the mean and
standard deviation of the number preferring the incumbent?

a.  = 330,  = 10.59 (correct)

 = np  = npq
b.  = 0.66,  = 0.021
c.  = 330,  = 18.17

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A communication monitoring company claims that 45% of
email messages are spam. Suppose you randomly select
twelve messages from your inbox. What is the probability
that at least seven of them are spam?

a. 0.2607
b. 0.1489
c. 0.8882

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A communication monitoring company claims that 45% of
email messages are spam. Suppose you randomly select
twelve messages from your inbox. What is the probability
that at least seven of them are spam?

a. 0.2607 (correct)
b. 0.1489 P ( X  7 ) u se t a b le C
c. 0.8882

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A communication monitoring company claims that 45% of
email messages are spam. After being on vacation you
return to 250 emails in your inbox. What is the approximate
probability that at least 40% are spam?

a. 0.9441
b. 0.7500
c. 0.6341

5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts

and Proportions
A communication monitoring company claims that 45% of
email messages are spam. After being on vacation you
return to 250 emails in your inbox. What is the approximate
probability that at least 40% are spam?

a. 0.9441 (correct)  
 
0.40 − 0.45
b. 0.7500 P( pˆ  0.40) = P Z  
 (0.45)(0.55) 
 
c. 0.6341  250 
P(Z  −1.59) = 1 − P(Z  −1.59)
1 − 0.0559 = 0.9441


5.3 Sampling Distributions for Counts
and Proportions