Question

I need help with a quick question. I will medal the person with the best answer. Thanks!

A statistical analysis firm is hired to analyze the failure rate of a manufactured product. Which margin of error below would best indicate that the data used by the firm is a valid representation of the population?

7.6
2.1
3.3
8.9

This question makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. I really need help. I really appreciate it!

Answer 1

@jim_thompson5910
@jdoe0001
@mathmale

Answer 2

I would really appreciate your help guys!!

Answer 3

Becca: Is that you? I saw this post before but was turned away by the fact that you're promising to "medal the best answer." You know what the rules say about asking for or giving out answers.

Answer 4

I have never posted this same question on open study before. I have said to medal the best answer before though. I don't know about any rules about asking for or giving out answers. Can you please explain?

Answer 5

While it's not strictly necessary, try arranging these four margins of error in ascending order:

7.6
2.1
3.3
8.9

Think: What does "margin of error" mean in this situation? Would we aim for a larger or a smaller "margin of error," or wouldn't the "margin of error" matter in terms of estimating a population parameter?

Answer 6

8.9
7.6
3.3
2.1

Answer 7

Margin of error would mean smaller I think.

Answer 8

Excerpt from the Code of Conduct:

Answer 9

But that's ("mean smaller") not what I was asking. Re-read my question, please.

Answer 10

It would be a smaller margin of error.

Answer 11

Very good. Now, try as best you can to explain why that is the correct answer to this problem. What are you thinking?

Answer 12

I'm not exactly sure how to explain this but the reason I thought it would be a smaller margin of error is because the word margin means a small amount.

Answer 13

Thanks for letting me know about the rules. Most of the time when I have asked questions on here it has been just to check if I got the answer correct so I do put the answer options. This question and a couple others I have not known what the answer is. I didn't know you weren't supposed to put the answer options. Sorry. Also, is it against the rules to say that the best answer gets a medal? I didn't think that was bad. Apologies.

Answer 14

Are you still there @mathmale

Answer 15

Sorry...I hadn't realized that you'd answered my previous post.

The main thing I wanted to emphasize, in terms of "answers," is that it's fine, it's great, to ask for help in finding your own answers / solutions to problems. On the other hand, it's against the rules to ASK FOR answers with little or no participation from you.

Answer 16

Regarding this math problem: The smaller the margin of error, the better. Who wants a large error?

Answer 17

I will be absent from OpenStudy for about 30 minutes. Just so that you know.

Answer 18

Alright. Thanks for all your help.