Data Set 1 "Body Data" in Appendix B includes pulse rates of 147 randomly selected adult females, and those pulse rates vary from a low of 36 bpm to a high of 104 bpm. Find the minimum sample size required to estimate the mean pulse rate of adult females. Assume that we want 99% confidence that the sample mean is within 2 bpm of the population mean.
a. Find the sample size using the range rule of thumb to estimate s.
b. Assume that σ = 12.5 bpm, based on the value of s = 12.5 bpm for the sample of 147 female pulse rates.
c. Compare the results from parts (a) and (b). Which result is likely to be better?