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91Ó°ÊÓ

\(A\) large retailer prepares its customers' monthly credit card bills using an automatic machine that folds the bills, stuffs them into envelopes, and seals the envelopes for mailing. Are the envelopes completely sealed? Inspectors choose 40 envelopes at random from the 1000 stuffed each hour for visual inspection. Identify the population and the sample.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Population: 1000 envelopes stuffed each hour; Sample: 40 envelopes inspected.

Step by step solution

01

Define the Population

To identify the population, we need to determine the entire group being studied. In this exercise, the population refers to all of the envelopes that are stuffed each hour by the automatic machine. Specifically, this is the total of 1000 envelopes stuffed each hour.
02

Define the Sample

The sample is a subset of the population that is actually observed or inspected. In this exercise, the sample consists of the 40 envelopes that inspectors choose at random from the 1000 envelopes stuffed each hour for visual inspection.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Population
In statistics, the term "population" refers to the complete set of elements or members that you are interested in studying. In the context of the exercise, the population comprises all the envelopes that are stuffed each hour by the machine. That means:
  • The population includes all 1000 envelopes processed in that timeframe.
  • This group is what we want to learn about or draw conclusions from.
  • In practical terms, managing a population of this size can often be challenging and resource-intensive.
Understanding the population is crucial because it represents the entire domain from which we hope to extrapolate meaningful insights. Upon examining a properly defined population, statistical inferences can be made to understand broader trends, product quality, or operational efficiency. In this exercise, the population is every envelope produced by the machine for each operational hour.
Sample
A sample is a smaller, manageable number of subjects that are chosen from the population. In our exercise, the sample includes only the 40 envelopes that inspectors randomly pick from the set of 1000 envelopes produced each hour. Here's why samples are key:
  • They allow us to gather data and make inferences about the population without needing to examine every single member.
  • Studying a sample is often more practical and less costly than attempting to survey an entire population.
  • It's important for the sample to be representative of the population to ensure accurate conclusions.
Choosing a good, representative sample helps us to gain insights without the impossible task of examining every single envelope. It allows a streamlined assessment of whether the envelopes are adequately sealed, providing a snapshot of the overall production quality.
Random Selection
Random selection is a method used to ensure that every member of a population has an equal chance of being included in the sample. In the given exercise, inspectors utilize random selection when choosing their sample of 40 envelopes from the 1000 produced each hour. This technique offers several benefits:
  • It minimizes selection bias, providing a fair representation of the entire population.
  • Random selection is a foundational aspect of ensuring statistical validity.
  • It assists in producing more reliable and generalizable results.
When inspectors select envelopes at random, they prevent any unintended preference or bias that could influence or skew the inspection results. Random selection is crucial in accurately assessing the quality of envelope sealing across the board, thus maintaining the integrity of the sampling process.

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