Chapter 9: Problem 11
Use the formula for the standard error of \(\hat{p}\) to explain why increasing the sample size decreases the standard error.
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Chapter 9: Problem 11
Use the formula for the standard error of \(\hat{p}\) to explain why increasing the sample size decreases the standard error.
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USA Today (October 14,2002 ) reported that \(36 \%\) of adult drivers admit that they often or sometimes talk on a cell phone when driving. This estimate was based on data from a representative sample of 1,004 adult drivers. A margin of error of \(3.1 \%\) was also reported. Is this margin of error correct? Explain.
An article in the Chicago Tribune (August 29, 1999) reported that in a poll of residents of the Chicago suburbs, \(43 \%\) felt that their financial situation had improved during the past year. The following statement is from the article: "The findings of this Tribune poll are based on interviews with 930 randomly selected suburban residents. The sample included suburban Cook County plus DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties. In a sample of this size, one can say with \(95 \%\) certainty that results will differ by no more than \(3 \%\) from results obtained if all residents had been included in the poll." Give a statistical argument to justify the claim that the estimate of \(43 \%\) is within \(3 \%\) of the actual percentage of all residents who feel that their financial situation has improved.
Suppose that county planners are interested in learning about the proportion of county residents who would pay a fee for a curbside recycling service if the county were to offer this service. Two different people independently selected random samples of county residents and used their sample data to construct the following confidence intervals for the proportion who would pay for curbside recycling: Interval 1:(0.68,0.74) Interval 2:(0.68,0.72) a. Explain how it is possible that the two confidence intervals are not centered in the same place. b. Which of the two intervals conveys more precise information about the value of the population proportion? c. If both confidence intervals are associated with a \(95 \%\) confidence level, which confidence interval was based on the smaller sample size? How can you tell? d. If both confidence intervals were based on the same sample size, which interval has the higher confidence level? How can you tell?
Use the formula for the standard error of \(\hat{p}\) to explain why a. The standard error is greater when the value of the population proportion \(p\) is near 0.5 than when it is near \(1 .\) b. The standard error of \(\hat{p}\) is the same when the value of the population proportion is \(p=0.2\) as it is when \(p=0.8\)
Suppose that 935 smokers each received a nicotine patch, which delivers nicotine to the bloodstream at a much slower rate than cigarettes do. Dosage was decreased to 0 over a 12 -week period. Of these 935 people, 245 were still not smoking 6 months after treatment. Assume this sample is representative of all smokers. a. Use the given information to estimate the proportion of all smokers who, when given this treatment, would refrain from smoking for at least 6 months. b. Verify that the conditions needed in order for the margin of error formula to be appropriate are met. c. Calculate the margin of error. d. Interpret the margin of error in the context of this problem.
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