Estimation and

Confidence Intervals

Chapter 9

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Learning Objectives
 LO9-1 Compute and interpret a point estimate of a
population mean.
 LO9-2 Compute and interpret a confidence interval for a
population mean.
 LO9-3 Compute and interpret a confidence interval for a
population proportion.
 LO9-4 Calculate the required sample size to estimate a
population proportion or population mean.
 LO9-5 Adjust a confidence interval for finite populations.

9-2
 LO9-1 Compute and interpret a point
estimate of a population mean.

Point Estimates
 A point estimate
is a single value
X  
(point) derived
from a sample
s  
and
estimate
used to
a
s  
2 2

population value.
p  

9-3
 LO9-2 Compute and interpret a confidence
interval for a population mean.

Confidence Interval Estimates

 A confidence interval estimate is a range of values
constructed from sample data so that the population
parameter is likely to occur within that range at a
specified probability. The specified probability is
called the level of confidence.

C.I. = point estimate ± margin of error

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 LO9-2

Factors Affecting Confidence

Interval Estimates
The width of a confidence interval is determined by:
 The sample size, n
 The variability in the population, usually σ
estimated by s
 The desired level of confidence

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 LO9-2

Confidence Intervals for a Mean,

σ Known

x  sample mean
z  z - value for a particular confidence level
σ  the population standard deviation
n  the number of observatio ns in the sample

 The width of the interval is determined by the level

of confidence and the size of the standard error of
the mean.
 The standard error is affected by two values:
 Standard deviation
 Number of observations in the sample
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 LO9-2

Interval Estimates - Interpretation

For a 95% confidence interval about 95% of similarly
constructed intervals will contain the parameter being
estimated. Also 95% of the sample means for a
specified sample size will lie within 1.96 standard
deviations of the hypothesized population.

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 LO9-2

Confidence Interval for a Mean,

σ Known - Example
The American Management Association surveys middle
managers in the retail industry and wants to estimate their
mean annual income. A random sample of 49 managers
reveals a sample mean of $45,420. The standard deviation
of this population is $2,050.
 What is the best point estimate of the population mean?
 What is a reasonable range of values for the population
mean?
 What do these results mean?

9-8
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval for a Mean,

σ Known – Example
The American Management Association surveys middle
managers in the retail industry and wants to estimate their
mean annual income. A random sample of 49 managers
reveals a sample mean of $45,420. The standard deviation
of this population is $2,050.

 What is the best point estimate of the population mean?

 Our best estimate of the unknown population mean is

the corresponding sample statistic.

 The sample mean of $45,420 is the point estimate

of the unknown population mean.

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 LO9-2

Confidence Interval for a Mean,

σ Known - Example
The American Management Association surveys middle
managers in the retail industry and wants to estimate their
mean annual income. A random sample of 49 managers
reveals a sample mean of $45,420. The standard
deviation of this population is $2,050.

 What is a reasonable range of values for the

population mean?

 Suppose the association decides to use the 95 percent

level of confidence.

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 LO9-2

How to Obtain a z-value for a

Given Confidence Level
The 95 percent confidence refers
to the middle 95 percent of the
observations. Therefore, the
remaining 5 percent are equally
divided between the two tails.
Following is a portion of Appendix B.3.

9-11
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval for a Mean,

σ Known – Example
The American Management Association surveys middle managers
in the retail industry and wants to estimate their mean annual
income. A random sample of 49 managers reveals a sample mean
of $45,420. The standard deviation of this population is $2,050.

The 95 percent confidence interval estimate is:

9-12
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval for a Mean –

Interpretation
The American Management Association
surveys middle managers in the retail
industry and wants to estimate their mean
annual income. A random sample of 49
managers reveals a sample mean of
$45,420. The standard deviation of this
population is $2,050.

What is the interpretation of the confidence

limits $45,846 and $45,994?

If we select many samples of 49 managers,

and for each sample we compute the mean
and then construct a 95 percent confidence
interval, we could expect about 95 percent
of these confidence intervals to contain
the population mean. Conversely, about 5
percent of the intervals would not contain the
population mean annual income, µ.
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 LO9-2

Confidence Intervals for a Mean,

σ Unknown
In most sampling situations the population standard deviation (σ) is not
known. Below are some examples where it is unlikely the population
standard deviations would be known.
 The Dean of the Business College wants to estimate the mean number of
hours full-time students work at paying jobs each week. He selects a
sample of 30 students, contacts each student, and asks them how many
hours they worked last week.

 The Dean of Students wants to estimate the distance the typical commuter
student travels to class. She selects a sample of 40 commuter students,
contacts each, and determines the one-way distance from each student’s
home to the center of campus.

 The Director of Student Loans wants to know the mean amount owed on
student loans at the time of his/her graduation. The director selects a
sample of 20 graduating students and contacts each to find the information.
9-14
 LO9-2

Using the t-Distribution: Confidence

Intervals for a Mean, σ Unknown
 It is, like the z distribution, a continuous distribution.
 It is, like the z distribution, bell-shaped and symmetrical.
 There is not one t distribution, but rather a family of t
distributions. All t distributions have a mean of 0, but their standard
deviations differ according to the sample size, n.
 The t distribution is more spread out and flatter at the center than
the standard normal distribution As the sample size increases,
however, the t distribution approaches the standard normal
distribution.

9-15
 LO9-2

Comparing the z and t Distributions

When n is Small, 95% Confidence
Level

9-16
 LO9-2

Using the t-Distribution; Confidence

Intervals for a Mean, σ Unknown
A tire manufacturer wishes to
investigate the tread life of its tires. Given in the problem:
A sample of 10 tires driven 50,000 n = 10
miles revealed a sample mean of
0.32 inch of tread remaining with a x = 0.32
standard deviation of 0.09 inch. s = 0.09

Construct a 95 percent confidence Compute the confidence interval using

interval for the population mean. the t-distribution (since s is unknown).
s
Would it be reasonable for the x±t
n
manufacturer to conclude that after
50,000 miles the population mean
amount of tread remaining is 0.30
inches?
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 LO9-2

Using the Student’s t-Distribution

Table

9-18
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval Estimates for

the Mean – Example
The manager of the Inlet Square Mall, near Ft.
Myers, Florida, wants to estimate the mean
amount spent per shopping visit by customers. A
sample of 20 customers reveals the following
amounts spent.

Based on a 95% confidence interval, do

customers spend $50 on average? Do they
spend $60 on average?

9-19
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval Estimates for

the Mean – Example
Compute the Confidence Interval
using the t-distribution (since s is unknown)
with 19 degrees of freedom.
s
x±t
n
s
= x±t
n
9.01
= 49.35 ± t
20
9.01
= 49.35 ± 2.093
20
= 49.35 ± 4.22
The endpoints of the confidence interval are $45.13 and $53.57
Conclude: It is reasonable that the population mean could be $50.
The value of $60 is not in the confidence interval. Hence, we
conclude that the population mean is unlikely to be $60.
9-20
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval Estimates

for the Mean – Using Minitab

9-21
 LO9-2

Confidence Interval Estimates for

the Mean – Using Excel

9-22
 LO9-2

When to Use the z or t Distribution for

Confidence Interval Computation

9-23
 LO9-2

When to Use the z or t Distribution

for Confidence Interval Computation
Use Z-distribution, Use t-distribution,
If the population standard If the population standard
deviation is known. deviation is unknown.

9-24
 LO9-3 Compute and interpret a confidence
interval for a population proportion.

A Confidence Interval for a

Population Proportion, p
The examples below report proportions. Note that each variable is
measured with the nominal scale of measurement.
 The career services director at Southern Technical Institute reports that
80 percent of its graduates enter the job market in a position related to
their field of study.
 A company representative claims that 45 percent of Burger King sales
are made at the drive-through window.
 A survey of homes in the Chicago area indicated that 85 percent of the
new construction had central air conditioning.
 A recent survey of married men between the ages of 35 and 50 found
that 63 percent felt that both partners should earn a living.

9-25
 LO9-3

A Confidence Interval for a

Population Proportion, p
To develop a confidence interval for a population proportion, we need
to meet the following assumptions.

1. The binomial conditions, discussed in Chapter 6, must be met.

Briefly, these conditions are:
a. The sample data is the result of counts.
b. There are only two possible outcomes.
c. The probability of a success remains the same from one trial to
the next.
d. The trials are independent. This means the outcome on one trial
does not affect the outcome on another.
2. The values np and n(1- p ) should both be greater than or equal to
5. This condition allows us to invoke the central limit theorem and
employ the standard normal distribution, that is, z, to compute a
confidence interval for a population proportion.
9-26
 LO9-3

A Confidence Interval for a

Population Proportion,p

9-27
 LO9-3

A Confidence Interval for a Population

Proportion, - Example p
The union representing the Bottle First, compute the sample proportion:
Blowers of America (BBA) is x 1,600
considering a proposal to merge with p= = = 0.80
n 2000
the Teamsters Union. According to
BBA union bylaws, at least three-
fourths of the union membership Compute the 95% Confidence Interval
must approve any merger. A random p(1- p)
sample of 2,000 current BBA p±z
n
members reveals 1,600 plan to vote
for the merger proposal. What is the .80(1-.80)
0.80 ±1.96 = .80 ±.018
estimate of the population 2,000
proportion? = (0.782, 0.818)

Develop a 95 percent confidence Conclude: The merger proposal will likely pass
interval for the population proportion. because the interval estimate includes values greater
Basing your decision on this sample
than 75 percent of the union membership.
information, can you conclude that
the necessary proportion of BBA
members favor the merger? Why?
9-28
 LO9-4 Calculate the required sample size to estimate
a population proportion or population mean.

Selecting an Appropriate Sample Size

There are 3 factors that determine the size of a sample,
none of which has any direct relationship to the size of the
population:

 The level of confidence desired

 The margin of error the researcher will tolerate
 The variation in the population being studied

9-29
 LO9-4

Selecting an Appropriate Sample

Size: What if the Population Standard
Deviation is not Known?

 Conduct a pilot study

 Use a comparable study
 Use a range-based approach

9-30
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating the

Population Mean

 z  
2

n 
 E 

9-31
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating

Population Mean – Example 1
A student in public administration wants to
æ z ×s ö
2
determine the mean amount members of city
councils in large cities earn per month. She n =ç ÷
would like to estimate the mean with a 95% è E ø
confidence interval and a margin of error of
less than $100. The student found a report by
the Department of Labor that estimated the
æ (1.96)($1, 000) ö
2
standard deviation to be $1,000. What is the
required sample size? =ç ÷
è $100 ø
Given in the problem: = (19.6)2
 E, the maximum allowable error, is $100,
 The value of z for a 95 percent level of = 384.16
confidence is 1.96,
 The estimate of the standard deviation is = 385
$1,000.
9-32
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating

Population Mean – Example 2
A consumer group would like to estimate the mean monthly
electricity charge for a single family house in July within $5
using a 99 percent level of confidence. Based on similar
studies, the standard deviation is estimated to be $20.00. How
large of a sample is required?

æ z ×s ö
2

n =ç ÷
è E ø

æ (2.58)(20) ö
2

n =ç ÷ = 107
è 5 ø
9-33
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating a

Population Proportion
æzö
2

n = p (1- p ) ç ÷
èEø
where:
n is the size of the sample
z is the standard normal value corresponding to
the desired level of confidence
E is the maximum allowable error

9-34
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating

Population Proportion – Example 1
The American Kennel Club wants to estimate the proportion of
children that have a dog as a pet. If the club wants the estimate to be
within 3% of the population proportion, how many children would they
need to contact? Assume a 95% level of confidence and that the club
estimated that 30% of the children have a dog as a pet.

æzö
2

n = p (1- p ) ç ÷
èEø
2
 1.96 
n  (.30 )(. 70 )   897
 .03 
9-35
 LO9-4

Sample Size for Estimating

Population Proportion – Example 2
A study needs to estimate the proportion of cities that have
private refuse collectors. The investigator wants the margin of
error to be within .10 of the population proportion, the desired
level of confidence is 90 percent, and no estimate is available
for the population proportion. What is the required sample
size?

æzö
2

n = p (1- p ) ç ÷
èEø
æ 1.645 ö
2

n = (.5)(1-.5) ç ÷ = 67.65
è .10 ø
n = 68 cities
9-36
 LO9-5 Adjust a confidence interval
for finite populations.

Finite-Population Correction
Factor (FPC)
 A population that has a known size is said to be finite.
 For a finite population, where the total number of objects is N
and the size of the sample is n, the following adjustment is made
to the standard errors of the sample means and the proportion:
Standard Error of the Mean
Finite Standard Error of the Proportion
Population Correction
Standard Error of the Mean Standard Error of the Proportion

s N -n p(1  p) N  n
sx = p 
N 1
n N -1 n

 However, if n/N < .05, the finite-population correction factor may

be ignored.
9-37
 LO9-5

Effects on FPC when n/N

Changes

Observe that FPC approaches 1 when n/N becomes smaller.

9-38
 LO9-5

Confidence Interval Formulas for

Estimating Means and Proportions with
Finite Population Correction (FPC)
C.I. for the Mean () C.I. for the Mean ()
s N -n s N -n
x±z x±t
n N -1 n N -1

C.I. for the Proportion ()

p(1- p) N -n
p±z
n N -1

9-39
 LO9-5

CI for Mean with FPC – Example

There are 250 families in Given in the problem:
Scandia, Pennsylvania. A
random sample of 40 of these N = 250
families revealed the mean n = 40
annual church contribution was S = $75
$450 and the standard
deviation of this was $75. Since n/N = 40/250 = 0.16, the
finite population correction factor
must be used.
 Discuss why the finite-
population correction factor The population standard
should be used. deviation is not known therefore
use the t-distribution
 What is the population Use the formula below to
mean? What is the best compute the confidence interval:
interval estimate of the
population mean with 90%
confidence?
 Could the population mean s N -n
x±t
N -1
be $445 or $425?
n
9-40
 LO9-5

CI for Mean with FPC - Example

s N -n
x±t
n N -1

$75 250 - 40
$450 ± t
40 250 -1
$75 250 - 40
$450 ±1.685
40 250 -1
$450 ± $19.98 .8434
$450 ± $18.35
($431.65, $468.35)

It is likely that the population mean is more than $431.65 but less than $468.35.
To put it another way, could the population mean be $445? Yes, but it is not
likely that it is $425 because the value $445 is within the confidence
interval and $425 is not within the confidence interval.

9-41