Chemical engineers at the University of Murcia (Spain) conducted a series of experiments to determine the most effective membrane to use in a passive sampler (Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 27, 1993). The effectiveness of a passive sampler was measured by the sampling rate, recorded in cubic centimeters per minute. In one experiment, six passive samplers were positioned with their faces parallel to the air flow and with an air velocity of 90 centimeters per second. After 6 hours, the sampling rate of each was determined. Based on the results, a 95% confidence interval for the mean sampling rate was calculated to be (49.66, 51.48).
a. What is the confidence coefficient for the interval?
b. Give a theoretical interpretation of the confidence coefficient
part a.
c. Give a practical interpretation of the confidence interval. d. What assumptions, if any, are required for the interval to yield valid inferences?