Math Problem Statement

In a survey, 19 people were asked how much they spent on their child's last birthday gift. The results were roughly bell-shaped with a mean of $46 and standard deviation of $5. Find the margin of error at a 80% confidence level.

Give your answer to two decimal places.

M E

±

Solution

To calculate the margin of error (ME) for the given data, we can use the formula for the margin of error at a confidence level:

ME=Zα/2×σnME = Z_{\alpha/2} \times \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}

Where:

  • Zα/2Z_{\alpha/2} is the z-value corresponding to the 80% confidence level,
  • σ\sigma is the standard deviation,
  • nn is the sample size.

Step 1: Find the Z-value for an 80% confidence level

For an 80% confidence level, the remaining 20% is split between both tails of the normal distribution, leaving 10% (0.10) in each tail. From the Z-table, the critical z-value for 80% confidence is approximately 1.28.

Step 2: Apply the formula

Given:

  • σ=5\sigma = 5,
  • n=19n = 19,
  • Zα/2=1.28Z_{\alpha/2} = 1.28,

The margin of error is calculated as:

ME=1.28×5191.28×1.148=1.470ME = 1.28 \times \frac{5}{\sqrt{19}} \approx 1.28 \times 1.148 = 1.470

Final Answer:

ME±1.47ME \approx \pm 1.47

Would you like a more detailed explanation of any step or have any other questions?


Here are 5 related questions you might find useful:

  1. How is the z-value determined for different confidence levels?
  2. What factors influence the margin of error in a survey?
  3. How does sample size affect the margin of error?
  4. What is the relationship between confidence level and the width of a confidence interval?
  5. How can the margin of error be reduced in surveys?

Tip: The margin of error decreases as the sample size increases, making your estimates more precise.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Confidence Intervals
Margin of Error
Normal Distribution

Formulas

ME = Z_{α/2} × (σ / √n)

Theorems

Empirical Rule
Central Limit Theorem

Suitable Grade Level

College Level Statistics