A researcher wishes to estimate with 95% confidence, the proportion of the people who own a home computer. A previous study shows that 40% of the interviewed had a computer at home. The researcher wishes to be accurate within 2% of the true proportion. Find the minimum sample size necessary?

Respuesta :

Answer:

The minimum sample size necessary is 2305.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a sample with a number n of people surveyed with a probability of a success of [tex]\pi[/tex], and a confidence level of [tex]1-\alpha[/tex], we have the following confidence interval of proportions.

[tex]\pi \pm z\sqrt{\frac{\pi(1-\pi)}{n}}[/tex]

In which

z is the zscore that has a pvalue of [tex]1 - \frac{\alpha}{2}[/tex].

The margin of error is:

[tex]M = z\sqrt{\frac{\pi(1-\pi)}{n}}[/tex]

For this problem, we have that:

[tex]\pi = 0.4[/tex]

95% confidence level

So [tex]\alpha = 0.05[/tex], z is the value of Z that has a pvalue of [tex]1 - \frac{0.05}{2} = 0.975[/tex], so [tex]Z = 1.96[/tex].

The researcher wishes to be accurate within 2% of the true proportion. Find the minimum sample size necessary?

We need a sample size of n.

n is found when M = 0.02. So

[tex]M = z\sqrt{\frac{\pi(1-\pi)}{n}}[/tex]

[tex]0.02 = 1.96\sqrt{\frac{0.4*0.6}{n}}[/tex]

[tex]0.02\sqrt{n} = 1.96*\sqrt{0.4*0.6}[/tex]

[tex]\sqrt{n} = \frac{1.96*\sqrt{0.4*0.6}}{0.02}[/tex]

[tex](\sqrt{n})^{2} = (\frac{1.96*\sqrt{0.4*0.6}}{0.02})^{2}[/tex]

[tex]n = 2304.96[/tex]

Rounding up

The minimum sample size necessary is 2305.