A researcher is interested in estimating the mean blood alcohol content of people arrested for driving under the influence. Based on past data, the researcher assumes a population standard deviation of 0.065. What sample size is needed to estimate the true mean blood alcohol content within .005 units at the 95% confidence level?

Respuesta :

Answer:

We need a sample size of at least 650

Step-by-step explanation:

We have that to find our [tex]\alpha[/tex] level, that is the subtraction of 1 by the confidence interval divided by 2. So:

[tex]\alpha = \frac{1-0.95}{2} = 0.025[/tex]

Now, we have to find z in the Ztable as such z has a pvalue of [tex]1-\alpha[/tex].

So it is z with a pvalue of [tex]1-0.025 = 0.975[/tex], so [tex]z = 1.96[/tex]

Now, find the margin of error M as such

[tex]M = z*\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

In which [tex]\sigma[/tex] is the standard deviation of the population and n is the size of the sample.

In this problem:

We need a sample of size at least n

n is found when [tex]M = 0.005, \sigma = 0.065[/tex]

So

[tex]M = z*\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

[tex]0.005 = 1.96*\frac{0.065}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

[tex]0.005\sqrt{n} = 1.96*0.065[/tex]

[tex]\sqrt{n} = \frac{1.96*0.065}{0.005}[/tex]

[tex](\sqrt{n})^{2} = (\frac{1.96*0.065}{0.005})^{2}[/tex]

[tex]n = 649.23[/tex]

Rounding up

We need a sample size of at least 650