Question

. The level of various substances in the blood of kidney dialysis patients is of concern. A researcher did

blood tests on a dialysis patient on six consecutive clinic visits. One variable measured was the level

of phosphate in the blood. The data on this one patient, in milligrams of phosphate per deciliter

(mg/dl) of blood, are:

5.6 5.1 4.6 4.8 5.7 6.4

a. The normal range of values for blood phosphate level is 2.6 to 4.8 mg/dl. Is there evidence that

the patient’s mean level in fact falls above 4.8?

b. Given your conclusion, are you at risk of making a Type I error or a Type II error? Provide

your answer in the context of the problem.

c. What sample size would you recommend, if it is important to detect and treat the elevated

average phosphate level of 5.5?

d. What assumptions did you have to make?

e. Report a one-sided 95% confidence interval for the mean blood phosphate level.

Answer 1