Environmental engineers are using data collected by weather data centers to learn how climate affects the sea ice. Of 543 ice melt ponds studied in a certainregion, 100 were classified as having"first-year ice". The researchers estimated that about 18% of melt ponds in the region havefirst-year ice.Estimate, with90% confidence, the percentage of allice-melt ponds in the region that havefirst-year ice. Give a practical interpretation of the results.

Construct a90% confidence interval around the sample proportion of ice melt ponds withfirst-year ice.

( , )

(Round to four decimal places asneeded.)

Interpret the confidence interval practically. Choose the correct answer below.

A.

Since 18% is not in theinterval, one can be90% confident the true proportion of ice melt ponds in the region withfirst-year ice is not 18%.

B.

One can be90% confident the true proportion of ice melt ponds in the region withfirst-year ice is within the aboveinterval, though it is probably not 18%.

C.

One can be90% confident the true proportion of ice melt ponds in the region withfirst-year ice is within the aboveinterval, and there is a90% chance it is 18%.

D.

Since 18% is in theinterval, one can be90% confident the true proportion of ice melt ponds in the region withfirst-year ice is 18%.

E.

One can be90% confident the true proportion of ice melt ponds in the region withfirst-year ice lies at the mean of the aboveinterval, rather than at 18%.