Discussion:
Q: In an effort to estimate the mean amount spent per household per month in a small Canadian town, data were collected for a sample of 50 households. The sample showed an average amount of $2000 and a standard deviation of $500.
a. Develop a 90% confidence interval estimate of the population mean amount spent.
b. Develop a 95% confidence interval estimate of the population mean amount spent.
c. Discuss what happens to the width of the confidence interval as the confidence level is increased. Does this seem reasonable? Explain.
d. If the data were collected for a sample of 20 households rather than 50, develop a 95% confidence interval estimate of the population mean amount spent, assuming the population has a normal probability distribution.
e. Discuss what happens to the width of the confidence interval as the sample size is decreased. Does this seem reasonable? Explain.