AP Statistics 4.2 Constructing a Confidence Interval for a Population Mean Questions

Build a mean confidence interval by choosing a t-procedure, checking conditions, calculating endpoints, and interpreting the population parameter.

Syllabus
Effective Fall 2026
Course
AP Statistics

Exam points

  • describe t-distributions as symmetric and heavy-tailed, approaching normal as degrees of freedom rise
  • choose a one-sample t-interval and define the contextual population mean it estimates
  • reduce matched pairs to ordered differences and use a one-sample t-interval for their population mean
  • check 10% independence and reject small-sample t inference for strong skewness or outliers
  • construct x-bar plus or minus t-star times s over square root n using n minus one degrees of freedom

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

A population is normally distributed with mean 25. Consider all samples of size 10 . The variable xˉ25s10\frac{\bar{x}-25}{\frac{s}{\sqrt{10}}}

A

has a normal distribution.

B

has a t-distribution with d f=10.

C

has a t-distribution with d f=9.

D

has either a normal or a t-distribution depending on the characteristics of the population standard deviation.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 4]

A company sells a certain type of whistle. The price of the whistle varies from store to store. Julio, a statistician at the company, wants to estimate the mean price, in dollars ($), of this type of whistle at all stores that sell the whistle.

Question (a)

(a)

Identify the appropriate inference procedure for Julio to use.

Question (b)

(b)

Describe the parameter for the inference procedure you identified in part (a-i) in context.

Question (c)

(c)

Consider your work in part (c).

Julio's inference procedure in part (a-i) needs one of the following requirements to be satisfied to verify the normality condition.

- The sample size is greater than or equal to 30.

- If the sample size is less than 30, the distribution of the sample data is not strongly skewed and does not have outliers.

Question (i)

(i)

Using your response to (d-i) and the preceding requirements, is the normality condition satisfied for Julio's data? Explain your response.

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