Identifying the Length of a Confidence Interval

What is the difference between the Confidence Level and Confidence interval?
The Confidence level of an interval estimate of a parameter is the probability that the
interval estimate contains a parameter, it describes what percentage of intervals from many
different samples contains the unknown population parameter.

The confidence level has its corresponding coefficient which is called confidence
coefficients. These coefficients are used to find the margin of error, for instance, the table below
shows the corresponding coefficient confidence level

Confidence interval - In statistics, this refers to the probability that a population parameter
will fall between a set of values for a certain proportion of times. Confidence intervals measure the
degree of uncertainty or certainty in a sampling method. They can take any number of probability
limits, with the most common being a 95% or 99% confidence level.

Confidence interval or interval estimate is a range of values that is used to estimate a

parameter. This estimate may or may not contain the true parameter value.
For instance, we write it in this form:

Lower limit < 𝜇< Upper limit

Or
(Lower limit, Upper Limit)

The Lower limit is obtained by using the formula LL= 𝑿̅ − 𝑬, while the Upper limit

is obtained by using the formula UL= 𝑿̅ + 𝑬, where E is the Margin of Error and 𝑿̅ is the sample
mean.
As mentioned earlier, the confidence coefficient is used on finding the margin of error, which
is the range of values above and below the sample statistic. For instance, Margin of error is
obtained using the formula:
𝜎
𝐸 = 𝑍𝛼 • ( )
2 √𝑛
where, n = sample size
𝑍𝛼 = confidence coefficient
2

𝜎 = population standard deviation

E = margin of error
But with this lesson, the margin of error will be given as well as the sample mean.
Example:
A random sample of 46 scores from the examination of ABM learners is taken and it gives a sample
mean of 78 with the interval scores between 77.18 and 78.82 having a 90% level of confidence.
Let’s answer the questions!

1. Which of the following is the 𝑥̅in the given statement?

Since it is given in the statement above, the sample mean is 78.

2.What is the upper limit? What is the lower limit?
The upper limit is 78.82 while the lower limit is 77.18

3. What is the margin of error in the given statement?

As we can see, the Margin of error is not directly mentioned, but the lower limit and upper limit is
there. As mentioned earlier the formula of the upper limit and the lower limit includes the Margin of
error.

LL= 𝑿̅ – E
The Lower limit and mean are given so…

77.18 = 78 – E
E = 78-77.18
E = 0.82

Let’s see if we can get the same value of E if we use the formula for the upper limit.

78.82 = 𝑿̅ + E
The Lower limit and mean are given. So, we have

78.82 = 78 + E
E = 78.82-78

E = 0.82
Therefore, the margin of error is 0.82
4. What is the confidence interval in the given statement?

To find the confidence interval, we have to use Lower limit < 𝝁< Upper limit and substitute the given
data. We have,

77.18 < 𝝁< 78.82 or (77.18, 78.82)

So, the Confidence interval is between 77.18 and 78.82.

5. What is the confidence level? How will you conclude?

The confidence level is 90%. So, we are 90% confident that the mean score
lies between 77.18 and 78.82.

Note: Sometimes, you just need to convert the formula to find what is missing.