Math Problem Statement

1.2 The data below shows mature age numeracy test scores (%) of a random sample of 28 mature age test candidates at NUST last year: 65 70 78 65 50 99 55 76 58 81 88 70 63 77 50 65 55 78 91 95 56 54 70 76 54 70 86 84 Assume that test scores are normally distributed. 1.2.1 Compute the point estimate of the average score of all candidates who wrote the test. [3] 1.2.2 Construct a 95% confidence interval estimate of the true population mean of candidates scores in the numeracy test. [6

Solution

Let's solve each part of the problem step by step.

1.2.1 Compute the point estimate of the average score of all candidates who wrote the test

The point estimate for the average score is simply the sample mean (xˉ\bar{x}).

Given the dataLet's solve each part of the problem step by step.

1.2.1 Compute the point estimate of the average score of all candidates who wrote the test

The point estimate for the average score is simply the sample mean (xˉ\bar{x}).

Given the
65, 70, 78, 65, 50, 99, 55, 76, 58, 81, 88, 70, 63, 77, 50, 65, 55, 78, 91, 95, 56, 54, 70, 76, 54, 70, 86, 84

To calculate the sample mean: xˉ=Sum of all scoresNumber of scores\bar{x} = \frac{\text{Sum of all scores}}{\text{Number of scores}}

I'll compute the sum and then divide by the number of observations (28).

Sum of scores=65+70+78++86+84=1864\text{Sum of scores} = 65 + 70 + 78 + \dots + 86 + 84 = 1864 xˉ=18642866.57\bar{x} = \frac{1864}{28} \approx 66.57

So, the point estimate of the average score of all candidates is 66.57.

1.2.2 Construct a 95% confidence interval estimate of the true population mean of candidates' scores in the numeracy test

To construct a 95% confidence interval for the population mean, we'll use the following formula: Confidence Interval=xˉ±tα/2×sn\text{Confidence Interval} = \bar{x} \pm t_{\alpha/2} \times \frac{s}{\sqrt{n}}

Where:

  • xˉ\bar{x} is the sample mean (66.57)
  • ss is the sample standard deviation
  • nn is the sample size (28)
  • tα/2t_{\alpha/2} is the t-score for the desired confidence level, with degrees of freedom n1=27n-1 = 27

Step 1: Calculate the sample standard deviation (ss):

The sample standard deviation is calculated using: s=(xixˉ)2n1s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum{(x_i - \bar{x})^2}}{n-1}}

I'll calculate the standard deviation based on the given data.

Step 2: Find the tt-score:

For a 95% confidence level and 27 degrees of freedom, the tt-score (t0.025t_{0.025}) can be found using a t-table or calculator. It is approximately t0.0252.052t_{0.025} \approx 2.052.

Step 3: Calculate the confidence interval:

Substituting the values: Margin of Error=2.052×s28\text{Margin of Error} = 2.052 \times \frac{s}{\sqrt{28}}

Let's calculate these values.

First, we find the standard deviation (ss):

s=(xixˉ)22713.56s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum{(x_i - \bar{x})^2}}{27}} \approx 13.56

Now, compute the margin of error: Margin of Error=2.052×13.56285.26\text{Margin of Error} = 2.052 \times \frac{13.56}{\sqrt{28}} \approx 5.26

Finally, the confidence interval is: Confidence Interval=66.57±5.26\text{Confidence Interval} = 66.57 \pm 5.26 =(61.31,71.83)= (61.31, 71.83)

So, the 95% confidence interval estimate of the true population mean of candidates' scores is (61.31, 71.83).


Would you like further details on these calculations or have any questions?

5 Relative Questions:

  1. How does the sample size affect the width of a confidence interval?
  2. What is the difference between a t-distribution and a normal distribution?
  3. Why is the t-distribution used instead of the normal distribution when constructing confidence intervals?
  4. How would the confidence interval change if the sample standard deviation were larger?
  5. What does the confidence interval tell us about the population mean?

Tip: Remember that a larger sample size generally leads to a narrower confidence interval, giving a more precise estimate of the population mean.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Normal Distribution
Confidence Intervals

Formulas

Sample Mean
Standard Deviation
Confidence Interval Formula

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Higher Education