The letter α in the formula for constructing a confidence interval estimate of the population mean is:
A)the level of confidence.
B)the probability that a particular confidence interval will contain the population mean.
C)the area in the lower tail of the sampling distribution of the sample mean.
D)None of these choices.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The letter α in the formula for constructing a confidence interval estimate of the population mean represents the significance level, which is the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true. It is not directly the level of confidence, the probability that a particular confidence interval will contain the population mean, or the area in the lower tail of the sampling distribution of the sample mean. The level of confidence is actually 1 - α, not α itself.

The Letter α in the Formula for Constructing a Confidence