If you want to be 95​% confident of estimating the population mean to within a sampling error of plus or minus3 and the standard deviation is assumed to be 20​, what sample size is​ required? The sample size required is

Respuesta :

Answer:

The sample size required is at least 171

Step-by-step explanation:

We have that to find our [tex]\alpha[/tex] level, that is the subtraction of 1 by the confidence interval divided by 2. So:

[tex]\alpha = \frac{1-0.95}{2} = 0.025[/tex]

Now, we have to find z in the Ztable as such z has a pvalue of [tex]1-\alpha[/tex].

So it is z with a pvalue of [tex]1-0.025 = 0.975[/tex], so [tex]z = 1.96[/tex]

Now, find the margin of error M as such

[tex]M = z*\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

In which [tex]\sigma[/tex] is the standard deviation of the population and n is the size of the sample.

What sample size is​ required?

A samle size of at least n is required, in which n is found when [tex]M = 3, \sigma = 20[/tex]

So

[tex]M = z*\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

[tex]3 = 1.96*\frac{20}{\sqrt{n}}[/tex]

[tex]3\sqrt{n} = 20*1.96[/tex]

[tex]\sqrt{n} = \frac{20*1.96}{3}[/tex]

[tex](\sqrt{n})^{2} = (\frac{20*1.96}{3})^{2}[/tex]

[tex]n = 170.7[/tex]

Rouding up

The sample size required is at least 171