Calculating σ for Woolen Scarves: Normal Distribution Help

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To calculate the standard deviation (σ) for the lengths of woolen scarves produced by Jane, a random sample of 20 scarves was analyzed, yielding a total length of 1428 cm and a sum of squares of 102286. The mill requires that 90% of scarves fall within 10 cm of the mean length. The equation used to find σ is based on the z-score for a normal distribution, where 10 cm is set equal to 1.6449σ, corresponding to the 90% confidence interval. The value of 1.6449 represents the z-score for which the probability of being within that range is 0.9. The calculated standard deviation that meets the mill's requirement is 6.079 cm.
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A woollen mill produces scarves. The mill has several machines each operated by a different person. Jane has recently started working at the mill and the supervisor wishes to check the lengths of the scarves Jane is producing. A random sample of 20 scarves is taken and the length, x cm, of each scarf is recorded. The results are summarised as:

∑x = 1428, ∑x² = 102286

The mill's owners require that 90% of scarves should be within 10 cm of the mean length.

Find the value of σ that would satisfy this condition.

I considered

P(|\overline{X}| < 10) = 0.9

but that didn't get me anywhere. And I tried confidence intervals with the t-distribution but that didn't work. Their answer is 6.079. How did they get it?

Their only line of working is "10 = 1.6449σ". I recognise that 1.6449 is the value of z for which P(Z > z) = 0.05, but I don't understand how they formed that equation.
 
Last edited:
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Never mind, got it...
 

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