8
Estimation of Population Parameters
The focus of this chapter is the development of methods for finding point and interval estimates of population parameters.
Topics Covered:
- Point estimators for the population mean and variance
- Interval estimators for the mean of a normal population
- Interval estimators for the difference of means of two normal populations
- Interval estimators for the variance of a normal population
- Interval estimators for the ratio of variances of two normal populations
- Other estimation methods: method of moments and the method of maximum likelihood
- Point and interval estimators for the binomial parameter
- Prediction: estimation of a future observation
Learning Outcomes:
After studying this chapter, the reader will be able to
- Understand the role of estimation in applied statistics.
- Determine the point and interval estimates for parameters of various discrete and continuous distributions.
- Understand the concept of a confidence coefficient and interpret confidence intervals.
- Understand the distinction between statistical and practical significance.
- Apply statistical packages MINITAB, Microsoft Excel, and JMP to determine confidence intervals of parameters of various distributions.
8.1 Introduction
We often encounter statistical problems of the following type: we have a large lot or population of objects such that if a measurement were made on each object, we would have a distribution of these measurements. Since these measurements have not been made, or if ...