If a poll reports 52% support with a margin of error +/-3 percentage points, which value is outside the possible true range?

Study for the Dual Enrollment American Government Exam. Use our flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations, to prepare for your test with confidence!

Multiple Choice

If a poll reports 52% support with a margin of error +/-3 percentage points, which value is outside the possible true range?

Explanation:
The main idea is how margin of error constrains the true value around the observed poll result. If the poll shows 52% support with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points, the true level of support in the population is likely between 52 − 3 = 49% and 52 + 3 = 55%. So values outside this window aren’t considered plausible given the margin of error. The value 48% is below 49%, so it falls outside the possible true range. The other numbers—50%, 52%, and 55%—all lie within or on the bounds of 49% to 55%.

The main idea is how margin of error constrains the true value around the observed poll result. If the poll shows 52% support with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points, the true level of support in the population is likely between 52 − 3 = 49% and 52 + 3 = 55%. So values outside this window aren’t considered plausible given the margin of error. The value 48% is below 49%, so it falls outside the possible true range. The other numbers—50%, 52%, and 55%—all lie within or on the bounds of 49% to 55%.

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