Question

(a) How large a sample must be drawn so that a 95% confidence interval for will have a margin of error equal to 4.6? Population standard deviation o=17.2
Round the critical value to no less than three decimal places.
Round the sample size up to the nearest integer.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
To determine the required sample size for a specific margin of error in a confidence interval, we can use the following formula:

\[
n = \left( \frac{Z \cdot \sigma}{E} \right)^2
\]

Where:
- \( n \) = required sample size
- \( Z \) = Z-score corresponding to the desired confidence level
- \( \sigma \) = population standard deviation
- \( E \) = margin of error

Given:
- Confidence level = 95%
- Population standard deviation (\( \sigma \)) = 17.2
- Margin of error (\( E \)) = 4.6

1. **Determine the Z-score for a 95% confidence level**:
For a 95% confidence level, the Z-score is approximately 1.96.

2. **Substitute the known values into the formula**:

\[
n = \left( \frac{1.96 \cdot 17.2}{4.6} \right)^2
\]

3. **Calculate**:

Calculating the numerator:

\[
1.96 \cdot 17.2 \approx 33.712
\]

Now divide by the margin of error:

\[
\frac{33.712}{4.6} \approx 7.32
\]

Now square the result:

\[
n \approx (7.32)^2 \approx 53.5856
\]

4. **Round up to the nearest whole number**:

Since we always round up for sample size to ensure we have enough data, we find:

\[
n = 54
\]

Therefore, the required sample size is **54**.
how do you do this on a TI-84 calculator
GPT-4o mini
To calculate the required sample size for a confidence interval on the TI-84 calculator, you can use a combination of the calculator’s functions. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. **Find the Z-score**:
For a 95% confidence level, as mentioned before, the Z-score is approximately 1.96. You can verify this using the calculator:

- Press the `2nd` button.
- Then press `VARS` to access the `DISTR` menu.
- Choose `invNorm`.
- For a 95% confidence level, input `0.975` (since you want the area to the left of the Z-score, you take half of the remaining area, which is 0.5), then press `ENTER`.
- The output should give you approximately `1.96`.

2. **Use the sample size formula**:
You can directly calculate the sample size using the formula on the calculator.

- Press `Y=` to enter the function editor.
- Move to `Y1=` and enter the formula for the sample size:
\[
((1.96 \times 17.2) / 4.6)^2
\]
- This will look like:
\[
((1.96 \times 17.2) / 4.6)^2
\]
- After inputting this, press `GRAPH` to visualize it, or you can simply proceed to calculate it directly.

3. **Calculate** directly:
If you prefer, you can simply compute the value directly:

a. Press the `HOME` button.

b. Type the calculation as follows:

```
((1.96 * 17.2) / 4.6)²
```

c. Press `ENTER`. The calculator will return the computed value.

**Note**: Ensure to use the `^` symbol for squaring on the TI-84. The calculator supports using parentheses to structure your formula properly.

4. **Round up**:
Since you found the calculated result for the sample size, let’s say it gave you approximately 53.5856.

- To get the required integer sample size, round up to the nearest whole number.
- On the TI-84, you can use:
- Press `MATH`, then scroll to `NUM` and select `ceil(` to round up, or simply note that 53.5856 rounds up to 54 manually.

### Summary
After completing these steps, you will find that the required sample size is **54**. You can use your TI-84 calculator for intermediate calculations as needed or for verification of the Z-score.