Answer:
A sample of 153 is needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
We have that to find our [tex]\alpha[/tex] level, that is the subtraction of 1 by the confidence interval divided by 2. So:
[tex]\alpha = \frac{1 - 0.9}{2} = 0.05[/tex]
Now, we have to find z in the Ztable as such z has a pvalue of [tex]1 - \alpha[/tex].
That is z with a pvalue of [tex]1 - 0.05 = 0.95[/tex], so Z = 1.645.
Now, find the margin of error M as such
[tex]M = z\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]
In which [tex]\sigma[/tex] is the standard deviation of the population and n is the size of the sample.
Standard deviation is 15 for the population of all adults.
This means that [tex]\sigma = 15[/tex]
We wish to find the sample size necessary to estimate the mean IQ score of statistics students. Suppose we want to be 90% confident that our sample mean is within 2 IQ points of the true mean.
This means that a sample of n is needed.
n is found when M = 2. So
[tex]M = z\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]
[tex]2 = 1.645\frac{15}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]
[tex]2\sqrt{n} = 1.645*15[/tex]
Simplifying both sides by 2
[tex]\sqrt{n} = 1.645*7.5[/tex]
[tex](\sqrt{n})^2 = (1.645*7.5)^2[/tex]
[tex]n = 152.2[/tex]
Rounding up:
A sample of 153 is needed.