8. Sampling Distributions & Confidence Intervals: Proportion

Constructing and Interpreting Confidence Intervals. In Exercises 13–16, use the given sample data and confidence level. In each case, (a) find the best point estimate of the population proportion p; (b) identify the value of the margin of error E; (c) construct the confidence interval; (d) write a statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval.

Medical Malpractice In a study of 1228 randomly selected medical malpractice lawsuits, it was found that 856 of them were dropped or dismissed (based on data from the Physicians Insurers Association of America). Construct a 95% confidence interval for the proportion of medical malpractice lawsuits that are dropped or dismissed.

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Births A random sample of 860 births in New York State included 426 boys. Construct a 95% confidence interval estimate of the proportion of boys in all births. It is believed that among all births, the proportion of boys is 0.512. Do these sample results provide strong evidence against that belief?

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Tennis Challenges In a recent U. S. Open tennis tournament, women playing singles matches used challenges on 137 calls made by the line judges. Among those challenges, 33 were found to be successful with the call overturned.

a. Construct a 99% confidence interval for the percentage of successful challenges.

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Tennis Challenges In a recent U. S. Open tennis tournament, women playing singles matches used challenges on 137 calls made by the line judges. Among those challenges, 33 were found to be successful with the call overturned.

b. Compare the result from part (a) to this 99% confidence interval for the percentage of successful challenges made by the men playing singles matches: . Does it appear that either gender is more successful than the other?

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

OxyContin The drug OxyContin (oxycodone) is used to treat pain, but it is dangerous because it is addictive and can be lethal. In clinical trials, 227 subjects were treated with OxyContin and 52 of them developed nausea (based on data from Purdue Pharma L.P.).

b. Compare the result from part (a) to this 95% confidence interval for 5 subjects who developed nausea among the 45 subjects given a placebo instead of OxyContin: . What do you conclude?

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Touch Therapy When she was 9 years of age, Emily Rosa did a science fair experiment in which she tested professional touch therapists to see if they could sense her energy field. She flipped a coin to select either her right hand or her left hand, and then she asked the therapists to identify the selected hand by placing their hand just under Emily’s hand without seeing it and without touching it. Among 280 trials, the touch therapists were correct 123 times (based on data in “A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch,” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 279, No. 13).

c. Using Emily’s sample results, construct a 99% confidence interval estimate of the proportion of correct responses made by touch therapists.

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Job Interviews In a Harris poll of 514 human resource professionals, 45.9% said that body piercings and tattoos were big personal grooming red flags.

a. Among the 514 human resource professionals who were surveyed, how many of them said that body piercings and tattoos were big personal grooming red flags?

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Job Interviews In a Harris poll of 514 human resource professionals, 45.9% said that body piercings and tattoos were big personal grooming red flags.

c. Repeat part (b) using a confidence level of 80%.

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Job Interviews In a Harris poll of 514 human resource professionals, 90% said that the appearance of a job applicant is most important for a good first impression.

a. Among the 514 human resource professionals who were surveyed, how many of them said that the appearance of a job applicant is most important for a good first impression?

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.

Gender Selection Before its clinical trials were discontinued, the Genetics & IVF Institute conducted a clinical trial of the XSORT method designed to increase the probability of conceiving a girl and, among the 945 babies born to parents using the XSORT method, there were 879 girls. The YSORT method was designed to increase the probability of conceiving a boy and, among the 291 babies born to parents using the YSORT method, there were 239 boys. Construct the two 95% confidence interval estimates of the percentages of success. Compare the results. What do you conclude?

In Exercises 7–10, use the same population of {4, 5, 9} that was used in Examples 2 and 5. As in Examples 2 and 5, assume that samples of size n = 2 are randomly selected with replacement.

Sampling Distribution of the Sample Proportion

c. Find the mean of the sampling distribution of the sample proportion of odd numbers.

In Exercises 7–10, use the same population of {4, 5, 9} that was used in Examples 2 and 5. As in Examples 2 and 5, assume that samples of size n = 2 are randomly selected with replacement.

Sampling Distribution of the Sample Proportion

a. For the population, find the proportion of odd numbers.

Are Nuclear Plants Safe? In a Gallup poll of 1038 adults, 47% said that nuclear plants are safe, 49% said that they are not safe, and 4% had no opinion. Construct a 95% confidence interval estimate of the proportion of all adults who say that nuclear plants are safe. Based on the result, can we conclude that fewer than half of all adults say that nuclear plants are safe?

Control Charts for p. In Exercises 5–12, use the given process data to construct a control chart for p. In each case, use the three out-of-control criteria listed near the beginning of this section and determine whether the process is within statistical control. If it is not, identify which of the three out-of-control criteria apply.

Li-ion Batteries Rechargeable lithium ion batteries are used for mobile computing devices and portable power systems. Consider batteries manufactured to provide a capacity of 2200 mAh (milliampere hour) with a minimum of 2150 mAh. Batteries not meeting those specifications are defects. Listed below are numbers of defects in batches of 300 randomly selected batteries in each of 12 consecutive days of production. What action should be taken?

4 3 5 8 12 7 11 9 9 7 6 19

Control Charts for p. In Exercises 5–12, use the given process data to construct a control chart for p. In each case, use the three out-of-control criteria listed near the beginning of this section and determine whether the process is within statistical control. If it is not, identify which of the three out-of-control criteria apply.

Car Batteries Defective car batteries are a nuisance because they can strand and inconvenience drivers, and drivers could be put in danger. A car battery is considered to be defective if it fails before its warranty expires. Defects are identified when the batteries are returned under the warranty program. The Powerco Battery corporation manufactures car batteries in batches of 250, and the numbers of defects are listed below for each of 12 consecutive batches. Does the manufacturing process require correction?

3 4 2 5 3 6 8 9 12 14 17 20