Chapter 8, Problem 1LCWP

In this chapter, we have studied confidence intervals. Carefully read the following statements about confidence intervals:

Once the endpoints of the confidence interval are numerically fixed, the parameter in question (either µ or p) does or does not fall inside the “fixed” interval.

A given fixed interval either does or does not contain the parameter µ or p; therefore, the probability is 1 or 0 that the parameter is in the interval.

Next, read the following statements. Then discuss all four statements in the context of what we actually mean by a confidence interval.

Nontrivial probability statements can be made only about variables, not constants.

The confidence level c represents the proportion of all (fixed) intervals that would contain the parameter if we repeated the process many, many times.