Statistics & Probability Theory- Sheet 9

1. A survey found that the American family generates an average of 17.2 pounds of glass
garbage each year. Assume that the standard deviation of the distribution is 2.5 pounds.
Find the probability that the mean of sample of 55 families will be between 17 and 18
pounds?
2. A. C. Neilsen reported that children between the ages of 2 and 5 watch an average of 25
hours of television per week. Assume the variable is normally distributed and the
standard deviation is 3 hours. If 20 children between the ages of 2 and 5 are randomly
selected, find the probability that the mean of the number of hours they watch television
will be greater than 26.3 hours.

3. Suppose that the standard deviation of the tube life for a population brand of TV picture
tube is known to be 𝜎 = 500, but that the mean operating life is not known. Overall, the
operating life of the tubes is assumed to be approximately normally distributed. For a
sample of 𝑛 = 15, the mean operating life is 𝑥̅ = 8,900 hr.
a. Determine the 95 percent confidence intervals for estimating the population
mean
b. Determine the 90 percent confidence intervals for estimating the population
mean.

4. A personnel department analyst wishes to estimate the mean number of training hours
annually for supervisors in a division of the company within 3 hr. (plus or minus) and
with 90 percent confidence. Based on data from other divisions, the analyst estimates the
standard deviation of training hours to be 𝜎 = 20 hr. Determine the minimum required
sample size.
5. A scientist wishes to estimate the average depth of a river. He wants to be 99% confident
that the estimate is accurate within 2 feet. From a previous study, the standard deviation
of the depths measured was 4.33 feet.

6. A survey conducted by Sallie Mae and Gallup of 1404 respondents found that 323
students paid for their education by student loans. Find the 90% confidence of the true
proportion of students who paid for their education by student loans.