INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS

SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

LIST 14 OF BIOSTATISTICS PROBLEMS

CONFIDENCE INTERVALS
Confidence intervals with large samples
1.- A soft drink vending machine is regulated so that the amount of beverage it serves is
approximately normally distributed, with a standard deviation equal to 0.15 deciliters.
Calculate a 95% confidence interval for the mean of all beverages dispensed by this
machine, if a random sample of 36 services has an average content of 2.25 dl.

How large does the sample in the above exercise need to be if you want to be 95%
confident that the sample mean is within 0.09 dl of the true mean?

3.- An efficiency expert wants to determine the average time it takes to drill three holes in a
metal clamp. What size sample will be needed to have 95% confidence that the sample
mean is within 15 seconds of the true mean? Suppose that from previous studies it is known
that = 40 seconds.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

A researcher affirms that the life span of mice can be prolonged by 25% when the calories
in their diet are reduced by approximately 40% from the time they are weaned. Restricted
diets are enriched to normal levels by vitamins and proteins. Assuming that it is known
from previous studies that = 5.8 months, how many mice should be included in the
sample if 99% confidence is desired that the mean sample lifespan is within 2 months of the
population mean, for all mice subjected to this reduced diet?

5.- The medical management of a clinic wanted to estimate the average number of days
required for the treatment of patients between 25 and 34 years of age. A random sample of
500 clinic patients of these ages provided a mean and standard deviation of 5.4 and 3.1
days, respectively. Obtain a 95% confidence interval for the average length of stay for the
patient population from which the sample was drawn. Use a confidence coefficient of 0.95.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

The Florida Alligator of May 23, 1979 reported that "law students oppose the death
penalty". This statement was made based on a survey for which 86 law students were
randomly selected and interviewed. 52% of respondents stated that they were opposed to
the death penalty. From this information obtain a 95% confidence interval for the actual
proportion of students who oppose the death penalty. Is the Florida Alligator statement
justified ?

According to the September 1975 Environment News, "acid rain" caused by the reaction of
certain air pollutants with rainwater appears to be a growing problem in the northwestern
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14
part of the United States. (Acid rain affects the soil and corrodes exposed metal surfaces).
Pure rain that precipitates through clean air has a pH of 5.7. Suppose that water samples
from 40 rainfall events are analyzed for pH and that and . Determine a 99%
confidence interval for the mean pH in rainfall and interpret the interval. What assumption
must be made for the confidence interval to be valid?

8.- The May 1979 Research Quarterly publishes the results of a study on the relationship
between sports participation and manual dexterity. From a random sample of 37 second
graders who participated in sports, a mean manual dexterity score of 32.19 a standard
deviation of 4.34 was obtained. From an independent random sample of 37 second graders
who did not participate in sports, a mean manual dexterity score of 31.68 and a standard
deviation of 4.56 were calculated. Estimate the difference in the actual mean scores for the
two groups with a 90% confidence interval. Does it appear to you that the average manual
dexterity rating for those participating in sports differs from the average manual dexterity
rating for those participating in sports?

of the average rating of those who do not?

9.- To compare the proportions of defective items produced by two production lines,
independent random samples of 100 items are selected from each line. Line A produced 18
defectives in the sample and line B produced 12 defectives. Obtain a 98% confidence
interval for the actual difference between the defective proportions for the two lines. (Is
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14
there sufficient evidence to suggest that one line produces a higher proportion of defectives
than the other?)

10.- According to the April 1975 Environment News, "ongoing analysis of lead levels in the
drinking water of several Boston communities revealed elevated levels of lead in the water
supplies of Somerville, Brighton and Beacon Hill..." Preliminary results of a 1974 study
indicated that "20% of 248 homes tested in these communities revealed elevated levels
exceeding the U.S. Public Health Agency standard of 50 parts per million." On the
contrary, in Cambridge, which adds anti-corrosives to the water, "only 5% of the 110
homes tested showed lead levels higher than the standard." Obtain a 95% confidence
interval for the difference in the proportions of homes having lead levels exceeding the
standard between the Somerville, Brighton, and Beacon Hill communities and the
Cambridge community.

Confidence intervals with small samples

1.- A group of students can choose between a physics course of 3 hours - semester without
laboratory and another one of 4 hours - semester with laboratory. The final written exam is
the same for both courses. If 12 students in the course with lab earned an average grade of
84 with a standard deviation of 4, and 18 students in the course without lab earned an
average grade of 77 with a standard deviation of 6, find a 99% confidence interval for the
difference between the average grades of the two courses. Assume that the populations are
approximately normally distributed, with equal variances.

2.- In 1983, a study was conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on
the development of ectomycorrhizae, a symbiotic relationship between tree roots and a type
of fungus, in which minerals are transported from the fungi to the trees and sugars from the
trees to the [Link] 1983, a study was conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University on the development of ectomycorrhizal, a symbiotic relationship between tree
roots and a type of fungus, in which minerals are transported from the fungi to the trees and
sugars from the trees to the fungi; for this study, 20 northern red oak scions were planted in
a greenhouse with Pisolithus tinctorus fungi. In all cases the same type of soil was used and
the same amount of sunlight and water was provided. To serve as a control, half received
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14
no nitrogen at planting and the other half received 368 parts per million (ppm) of nitrogen
in the form of . Log weights, in grams, after 140 days, were as follows:
NaNO3

Nitrogen free 0.3 0.53 0.2 0.37 0.4 0.43 0.3 0.42 0.3 0.43
2 8 7 6 8
With nitrogen 0.2 0.43 0.4 0.49 0.5 0.75 0.7 0.86 0.6 0.46
6 7 2 9 2

Find a 95% confidence interval for the difference in mean stem weights between scions that
did not receive nitrogen and those that received 368 ppm nitrogen. Assume that the
populations are normally distributed, with equal variances. Based on your results, do you
think there is any difference between those who received nitrogen and those who did not?

3.- The following data, expressed in days, represent the recovery time of patients randomly
treated with one of the drugs to treat severe bladder infections:
Medication 1
Medication 2

Find a 99% confidence interval for the difference of the mean recovery time for
the two drugs, assuming normal populations with equal variances. Does one seem to you to
be better than the other? If so, which one do you think is the best and why?
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

4.- A cab company is trying to decide whether to purchase A or B tires for its vehicles; to
estimate the difference between the two brands, an experiment is carried out using two tires
of each company, randomly selected, on the rear wheels of 8 cabs until they are completely
worn out and the following distances, in kilometers, are recorded:
Cab 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Mark A 34 400 45 500 36 700 32 000 48 400 32 800 38 100 30 100
Brand B 36 700 46 800 37 700 31 100 47 800 36 400 38 900 31 500

Find a 99% confidence interval for if the populations are assumed to be

approximately normally distributed with equal variances. What brand of tire should be
purchased from the cab company? Explain based on your calculations.

5.- Regular consumption of pre-sweetened cereals contributes to tooth decay, heart disease
and other degenerative diseases, according to studies conducted by Dr. W. H. Bowen, of
the National Institute of Health and Dr. J. Yudben, Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at
the University of London. In a random sample of 20 similar servings of a cereal, the
average sugar content was 11.3 mg, with a standard deviation of 2.45 grams. Assuming that
the sugar content is normally distributed, obtain a 95% confidence interval for the mean of
the sugar contents in individual servings of the cereal.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

The rate of oxygen consumption is an important measure of the physiological activity of

runners. The May 1979 Research Quarterly reported on differences in oxygen consumption
rates for college males trained with two different methods; one using continuous training
for a certain length of time each day and the other using intermittent training of equal total
duration. Means, standard deviations and sample sizes are shown in the following table.
Continuous training
Intermittent training

(Measurements are in milliliters per kilogram-minute). Assuming that the measurements

are from populations with normal distributions of equal variances, estimate the difference
in the population means, with a confidence coefficient of 0.95.

The Environmental Protection Agency gathered information regarding LC50 measurements

(lethal concentration that kills 50% of experimental animals) for certain chemicals that are
likely to be found in freshwater rivers and lakes. For a certain fish species, the LC50
measurements for DDT in 12 experiments were as follows:
16, 5, 21, 19, 10, 5, 5, 8, 2, 7, 2, 2, 4, 9 parts per million
Estimate the true average LC50 for DDT, with a confidence coefficient of 0.90. Assume
that LC50 measurements have approximately a normal distribution.
8.- With respect to the previous experiment, another common insecticide, Diazinon, gave
the following LC50 measurements in three experiments: 7.8, 1.6 and 1.3.
0. Estimate the mean LC50 for Diazinon by 90% confidence interval.
a. Estimate the difference in the mean LC50 for DDT and for Diazinon using a 90%
confidence interval. What assumptions must be made for the interval obtained to be
valid?
9.- The areas (in hectares) occupied by alligators, according to the seasons, in a lake were
recorded. Five alligators recorded in the spring showed areas of 8.0, 12.1, 8.1, 8.1, 18.2 and
31.7. Four different alligators recorded in the summer showed areas of 102.0, 81.7, 54.7
and 50.7. Estimate the difference in the average areas in spring and summer, by means of a
95% confidence interval. What assumptions should be established?
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

10.- A certain metal is produced by a standard process. A new process is developed in

which an alloy is added to the metal production. Manufacturers are interested in estimating
the true difference between the metal breakdown stresses produced by the two processes.
For each metal, 12 pieces are selected and each piece is stressed until it breaks. The
following table shows the rupture stresses of the parts in kilograms per square centimeter:
Standard 428 419 45 439 441 45 463 429 43 445 441 463
Process 8 6 8
New process 462 448 43 465 429 47 453 459 42 468 452 447
5 2 7

Assuming that the sampling was conducted over two independent normal distributions with
equal variances, obtain the 90, 95 and 99% confidence intervals for . Based on the
results, would you be inclined to conclude that there is a real difference between and
.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

Confidence interval for σ2

1.- In the work of a laboratory it is desirable to carefully check the variability of readings
obtained from standard samples. In a study of calcium concentration in drinking water as
part of water quality assessment, the same measurement standard was passed through the
laboratory six times at random intervals. The readings, in parts per million, were 9.54, 9.61,
9.32, 9.48, 9.70 and 9.26. Estimate σ2, the population variance for readings obtained from
the standard, with a 90% confidence interval.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

2.- The ages of 3 university professors in a random sample are 39, 54, 61, 72 and 59 years.
Obtain a 99% confidence interval, from these data, for the population variance of the ages
of all teachers at the university, assuming that the ages are normally distributed.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

3.- A precision instrument is guaranteed to read with a maximum error of 2 units. A sample
of 4 readings of the same object gave as measurements 353, 351, 351 and 355. Calculate a
90% confidence interval for the population variance. What assumptions should be
established? Is the warranty adequate? Explain.

4.- It is expected to have a certain nominal random variation in the thickness of the plastic
sheets that a machine produces. To determine when the thickness variation is within certain
limits, 12 plastic sheets are randomly selected each day and their thickness measured in
millimeters. The data obtained are as follows: 12.6, 11.9, 12.3, 12.8, 11.8, 11.7, 12.4, 12.1,
12.3, 12.0, 12.5 and 12.9. If thickness is assumed to be a normally distributed random
variable, obtain the estimated 90, 95 and 99% confidence intervals for the unknown
variance of thickness. If a variance greater than 0.9 mm is not acceptable, is there any
reason for concern based on this evidence?
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

Confidence intervals for the ratio of two variances,

1.- Construct a 95% confidence interval for in exercises 1, 2 and 3 of the problems
corresponding to confidence intervals with small samples. Is it justified to say that
? Why?
2.- Construct a 90% confidence interval for in exercise 4 of the problems
corresponding to confidence intervals with small samples. Is it justified to say that
? Why?
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

3.- Construct a 90% confidence interval for in exercise 6 of the problems

corresponding to confidence intervals with small samples. Is it justified to say that
? Why?
4.- Construct a 98% confidence interval for in exercise 10 of the problems
corresponding to confidence intervals with small samples. Is it justified to say that
? Why?

Confidence intervals for paired observations

1.- The government awards a grant to the agriculture departments of 9 universities to test
the production capacity of two new genetically modified wheat varieties. Each variety was
planted in plots of equal area at each university and yields, in kilograms per plot, were as
follows:
University
Variety 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 38 23 35 41 44 2 37 31 38
9
2 45 25 31 38 50 3 36 40 43
3

Find a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference between the yields of the two
varieties, assuming that the differences between the yields are approximately normally
distributed. Explain why it is necessary to work in pairs on this problem.

2.- A spa claims that a new exercise program will reduce a person's waist size by an
average of 2 cm in a period of 5 days. The waist measurements of 6 men who participated
in the program are recorded before and after the 5-day period in the following table:
Men
1 2 3 4 5 6
Measured 90.4 95. 98.7 115.9 104.0 85.6
before 5
Measurement 91.7 93. 97.4 112.8 101.3 84.0
after 9
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

By calculating a 95% confidence interval for the mean reduction in waist measurement,
determine whether the above statement is valid. Assume that the distribution of waist
measurement differences before and after the program is approximately normal.

The study "Evaluation of prescribed burning in relation to available deer browse" was
conducted at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to determine if fire can be
used as a viable means to increase the amount of forage available to deer during the critical
times of late winter and early spring. Calcium is an element required by plants and animals.
The amount taken and stored in the plant is closely related to the amount in the soil and,
therefore, affects the amount available to deer. A large area of land in Fishburn Forest was
selected for a prescribed burning operation. Soil samples were taken from 12 plots of equal
area just before burning and analyzed for calcium content. Two months later, the same plots
were tested for calcium levels after burning. These values, in kg/land, are presented in the
following table:
Terrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 11 12
0
Calcium Before 50 5 82 64 8 73 7 54 23 4 36 54
levels burning 0 2 7 5
(kg/land) After burning 9 1 45 18 1 9 3 9 18 9 9 9
8 8 2

Determine a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in the level of calcium in the
soil before and after prescribed burning. Consider that the distribution of differences in
calcium levels is approximately normal.
 INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL ESCUELA NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS
SALMORAN GARCIA D'SAVI QUETZALLI RAMIREZ CARPI LAURA NAVIL RAMOS FERNÁNDEZ
ESMERALDA
GROUP: 2FV1
Task 14

In the article "A study of a modified membrane filter technique for the enumeration of
stressed fecal coliforms in urban runoff", the Department for Civil Engineering of the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, compared the M-5 hr test technique to
recover fecal coliforms in storm drainage water from an urban area, with the most probable
number (MPN) technique. A total of 12 samples were taken between May 25 and June 28
and analyzed by the two techniques. Fecal coliform counts per 100 ml are presented in the
following table:
Sample MPN Accounts M-5
Accounts hr
1 2300 2010
2 1200 930
3 450 400
4 210 436
5 270 4100
6 450 2090
7 154 219
8 179 169
9 192 194
10 230 174
11 340 274
12 194 183

Obtain a confidence interval for the difference in mean fecal coliform counts between the
M-5 hr and MPN techniques. Assume that the account differences are approximately
normally distributed.