Grinstead-Snell-Probability · Problem 9.3.10

Generating Functions

Mathematics · central-limit-theorem-continuous

Problem

A surveyor is measuring the height of a cliff known to be about 1000 feet. He assumes his instrument is properly calibrated and that his measurement errors are independent, with mean μ=0\mu = 0 and variance σ2=10\sigma^2 = 10. He plans to take nn measurements and form the average. Estimate, using (a) Chebyshev's inequality and (b) the normal approximation, how large nn should be if he wants to be 95 percent sure that his average falls within 1 foot of the true value. Now estimate, using (a) and (b), what value should σ2\sigma^2 have if he wants to make only 10 measurements with the same confidence?

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