Use the given degree of confidence and sample data to construct a confidence interval for the population mean [tex]\mu[/tex]. Assume that the population has a normal distribution.

A laboratory tested twelve chicken eggs and found that the mean amount of cholesterol was 185 milligrams with [tex]s=17.6[/tex] milligrams. A confidence interval of [tex]173.8 \, \text{mg} \ \textless \ \mu \ \textless \ 196.2 \, \text{mg}[/tex] is constructed for the true mean cholesterol content of all such eggs. It was assumed that the population has a normal distribution.

What confidence level does this interval represent?

A. [tex]99\%[/tex]
B. [tex]80\%[/tex]
C. [tex]95\%[/tex]
D. [tex]98\%[/tex]



Answer :

To determine the confidence level represented by the given confidence interval for the population mean \(\mu\), follow these steps:

1. Understand the given data:
- Sample size (\(n\)): 12
- Sample mean (\(\bar{x}\)): 185 milligrams
- Sample standard deviation (\(s\)): 17.6 milligrams
- Confidence interval: \(173.8 \text{ mg} < \mu < 196.2 \text{ mg}\)

2. Calculate the margin of error (E):
[tex]\[ E = \text{sample mean} - \text{lower bound of the interval} \][/tex]
Substituting the values:
[tex]\[ E = 185 - 173.8 = 11.2 \text{ mg} \][/tex]

3. Calculate the t-score corresponding to the margin of error:
The formula for the t-score is:
[tex]\[ t = \frac{E}{s / \sqrt{n}} \][/tex]
Substituting the values:
[tex]\[ t = \frac{11.2}{17.6 / \sqrt{12}} \approx 2.204 \][/tex]

4. Determine the degrees of freedom (df):
[tex]\[ \text{df} = n - 1 = 12 - 1 = 11 \][/tex]

5. Find the p-value associated with the t-score for the degrees of freedom:
Using the t-distribution table, or a statistical software or calculator, find the p-value corresponding to \(t = 2.204\) with 11 degrees of freedom. For a one-tailed test, the p-value for \(t = 2.204\) and 11 degrees of freedom is approximately 0.025.

6. Convert the p-value to the confidence level:
Since the confidence interval is two-tailed, double the p-value obtained:
[tex]\[ \text{Confidence Level} = 1 - (2 \times 0.025) = 0.95 = 95\% \][/tex]

Thus, the confidence interval \(173.8 \text{ mg} < \mu < 196.2 \text{ mg}\) represents a 95\% confidence level. Therefore, the correct answer is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{95\%} \][/tex]

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