document.write( "Question 1157904: You are a researcher studying the lifespan of a certain species of bacteria. A preliminary sample of 40 bacteria reveals a sample mean of ¯x=72 hours with a standard deviation of s= 5.2 hours. You would like to estimate the mean lifespan for this species of bacteria to within a margin of error of 0.55 hours at a 99% level of confidence.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "What sample size should you gather to achieve a 0.55 hour margin of error? Round your answer up to the nearest whole number.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "n =_______bacteria\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #780850 by Boreal(15235)\"\" \"About 
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half-interval is t (df=unknown, 0.995)*s/sqrt(n). Use z first
\n" ); document.write( "=2.576*5.2/sqrt(n)=0.55 units hours
\n" ); document.write( "13.3952/sqrt(n)=.55
\n" ); document.write( "so 13.3952/0.55=sqrt(n)
\n" ); document.write( "n=593.16 round to 594\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "t df=594 should be close to z
\n" ); document.write( "divide t 0.995/z 0.995 and multiply by 594
\n" ); document.write( "that gives 596 rounded upward.
\n" ); document.write( "can check
\n" ); document.write( "t=2.584
\n" ); document.write( "t*s/sqrt(586)=.55\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "596 is the sample size needed.\r
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