Chapter 8.2, Problem 17P

In Problems 13-19, assume that the population of x values has an approximately normal distribution.

Diagnostic Tests: Total Calcium Over the past several months, an adult patient has been treated tor tetany (severe muscle spasms). This condition is associated with an average total calcium level below $\text{6 mg/dl}$ (Reference: Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests by F. Fischbach). Recently, the patient's total calcium tests gave the following readings $\left(\text{in mg/dl}\right)$:

9.38.810.18.99.49.810.0

9.911.212.1

(a) Use a calculator to verify that $\mp \text{=9}\text{.95}$ and $s=1.02$.

(b) Find a $\text{99}\text{.9\%}$ confidence interval for the population mean of total calcium in this patient's blood.

(c) Interpretation Based on your results in part (b), does it seem that this patient still has a calcium deficiency? Explain.