Dawnbridge

Casio fx-CG50 field manual for IB Math

AI HL only · 42 of 44

42

Confidence interval for μ

AI HL

Use the t-interval routine to find a confidence interval for the population mean μ from summary statistics.

Goal

A sample of size ​n=20​ has mean ​xˉ=115.3​ and standard deviation ​sx​=28. Find a 95% confidence interval for the population mean ​μ.

1

From the MAIN MENU, open Statistics. If you're already inside another app, press first to get back to MAIN MENU.

2

Press (INTR), then (t), then (1-Sample) to open the one-sample t-interval wizard.

3

Press (Var) to switch Data from List to Variable, since you have summary statistics. Fill in C-Level = 0.95, ​xˉ=115.3, sx = 28, and n = 20.

RadNorm2
d/cReal
1-Sample tInterval
Data:Variable
C-Level:0.95
x̄:115.3
sx:28
n:20
Save Res:None
↓
CALC
4

Move down to Execute and press .

Result

The calculator's interval is ​(102.196…, 128.404…). Reported to 3 significant figures, the 95% confidence interval for ​μ​ is ​(102, 129).

Round the bounds outwards. Take the lower bound down and the upper bound up, so your reported interval still contains the calculator's exact one. Never round a bound in the direction that would narrow the interval. Here the lower bound ​102.196…​ gives ​102​ either way, but the upper bound ​128.404…​ must round up to ​129, not the ​128​ that ordinary 3 s.f. rounding would give, so that ​128.404​ still lies inside the interval.

RadNorm2
d/cReal
1-Sample tInterval
Lower=102.195597
Upper=128.404403
x̄=115.3
sx=28
n=20

Your turn

Work each one on your calculator, then check the answer.

  1. 1

    A sample of ​n=15​ has ​xˉ=120.7​ and ​sx​=42. Find a 90% confidence interval for ​μ.

  2. 2

    A sample of ​n=28​ has ​xˉ=280.8​ and ​sx​=45. Find a 99% confidence interval for ​μ.

  3. 3

    A sample of ​n=22​ has ​xˉ=210.1​ and ​sx​=26. Find a 95% confidence interval for ​μ.