Week 4 - Statistics - Initial post due by tomorrow @ 8pm CST

Discussion 2: Data Analysis

You are now aware of the terms population, sample, and confidence intervals. You will be required to answer questions about these terms in this this week’s Discussion.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the following problem:

Review and respond to problem 5 under "Data Analysis" on page 409 of your course text.

To determine the solution to problem 5, you will need to:

1. calculate the mean of all the park acreages (the “population mean”)
2. select a random sample of 20 of the values
3. calculate the sample mean,
4. construct a 90% confidence interval around that sample mean
5. determine whether the population mean can be found within your confidence interval

Post by Day 4 a 200- to 250-word response that addresses the following question: Is the true proportion contained in the confidence interval? Be sure to justify your explanation.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond by Day 7 to two or more of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague's posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague's posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and the insights you gained from the comments your colleagues made.

Week 4 Learning Resources

Required Resources

Readings

• Bluman, A. G. (2014). Elementary statistics: A step-by-step approach(9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • Chapter 7, “Confidence Intervals and Sample Size” (pp. 369–412)

Optional Resources

• Khan Academy. (2014). You can learn anything. Retrieved fromwww.khanacademy.org
• University of Baltimore. (2015). Dr. Arsham’s statistics site. Retrieved from http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/Business-stat/opre504.htm
• Note: Although not required, you may consider reviewing all sections in your course text on Minitab, Microsoft Excel, and TI-83 and 84 as optional material that may be helpful.