Solved on Jan 02, 2024

A college admissions officer takes a random sample of 100 entering freshmen and finds their mean mathematics SAT score is 436. Assuming the population standard deviation is σ=115\sigma=115, construct a 99%99\% confidence interval for the mean mathematics SAT score of the entering freshman class, rounded to the nearest whole number.
A 99%99\% confidence interval for the mean mathematics SAT score is 395<μ<477\boxed{395}<\mu<\boxed{477}.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. The sample size is n=100n = 100.
2. The sample mean is xˉ=436\bar{x} = 436.
3. The population standard deviation is σ=115\sigma = 115.
4. We are constructing a 99%99\% confidence interval for the population mean μ\mu.
5. Since the sample size is large (n30n \geq 30), we can use the z-distribution to approximate the sampling distribution of the sample mean.

STEP 2

Determine the z-score that corresponds to a 99%99\% confidence level. This value is the critical value zα/2z_{\alpha/2}, where α=10.99=0.01\alpha = 1 - 0.99 = 0.01 and α/2=0.005\alpha/2 = 0.005.

STEP 3

Look up the critical z-score in a standard normal (z) distribution table or use a statistical calculator to find z0.005z_{0.005}.

STEP 4

The z-score that corresponds to a 99%99\% confidence level (with α/2=0.005\alpha/2 = 0.005) is approximately zα/2=2.576z_{\alpha/2} = 2.576.

STEP 5

Calculate the margin of error using the formula:
MarginofError=zα/2×σnMargin\, of\, Error = z_{\alpha/2} \times \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}

STEP 6

Plug in the values for zα/2z_{\alpha/2}, σ\sigma, and nn to calculate the margin of error.
MarginofError=2.576×115100Margin\, of\, Error = 2.576 \times \frac{115}{\sqrt{100}}

STEP 7

Since 100=10\sqrt{100} = 10, simplify the margin of error calculation.
MarginofError=2.576×11510Margin\, of\, Error = 2.576 \times \frac{115}{10}

STEP 8

Calculate the margin of error.
MarginofError=2.576×11.5Margin\, of\, Error = 2.576 \times 11.5

STEP 9

Calculate the margin of error.
MarginofError=29.624Margin\, of\, Error = 29.624

STEP 10

Round the margin of error to the nearest whole number.
MarginofError30Margin\, of\, Error \approx 30

STEP 11

Construct the confidence interval using the sample mean and the margin of error.
Lowerlimit=xˉMarginofErrorLower\, limit = \bar{x} - Margin\, of\, Error Upperlimit=xˉ+MarginofErrorUpper\, limit = \bar{x} + Margin\, of\, Error

STEP 12

Calculate the lower limit of the confidence interval.
Lowerlimit=43630Lower\, limit = 436 - 30

STEP 13

Calculate the lower limit of the confidence interval.
Lowerlimit=406Lower\, limit = 406

STEP 14

Calculate the upper limit of the confidence interval.
Upperlimit=436+30Upper\, limit = 436 + 30

STEP 15

Calculate the upper limit of the confidence interval.
Upperlimit=466Upper\, limit = 466
The 99%99\% confidence interval for the mean mathematics SAT score for the entering freshman class is 406<μ<466406 < \mu < 466.

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