What is the general form of an interval estimate of a population mean?

The general form of an interval estimate of a population mean is expressed as the sample mean plus or minus the margin of error, which is correctly represented as x̅ +/- Margin of Error. This formulation provides a range within which the true population mean is expected to lie, taking into account the variability in the sample data and the desired level of confidence.

The sample mean serves as a point estimate of the population mean, while the margin of error accounts for the uncertainty associated with this estimate. It is determined by factors such as the standard deviation of the sample and the chosen confidence level, allowing statisticians to construct a confidence interval around the sample mean.

Understanding this concept is crucial in statistics because it gives not just a single value but a range that reflects the precision of the estimate, making it more informative than just stating a mean value. This approach is foundational in inferential statistics, where we draw conclusions about a population based on sample data.