Statistics

and
Probability
Second Semester
Prepared by:
Liza P. Sewala, MT-I, EMNHS
 Chapter 4
Lesson 3
Confidence Intervals
for the Population Mean
when is Unknown
Objectives
Identify the appropriate distribution when the population is
unknown.

Understand the t-distribution

State the difference between a z-distribution and a t-

distribution

Identify the confidence coefficients for computing t from the

t-table
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

1. The shape of a
normal curve is
symmetrical.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

2. For large samples, the

sample standard
deviation is used.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

3. An interval estimate for a

parameter is a range of
values containing the
parameter.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

4. The confidence
coefficients for a 95%
confidence interval are
±2.58.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE
5. The Central Limit Theorem
states that as sample size
increases, the shape of the
distribution approximates the
normal curve.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

6. When the
confidence level is
90%, .
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

7. A point estimate of a
population parameter is
obtained from a sample.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

8. An interval estimate is
a range of values.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

9. All confidence
levels have the same
confidence
coefficients.
Can you recall? TRUE of FALSE

10. A confidence level

is expressed as a
fraction.
Let’s Explore: TEACHING STRATEGY

Aldrei wants to know if cooperative grouping is an effective

strategy in improving the mathematics performance of Grade 7
students. Twenty students were included in the experimental group
and another 20 for the control group. The mean achievement score
of the students in experimental group was 82.5 with a standard
deviation of 3 while the mean achievement score of the students in
the control group was 80 with the standard deviation of 6. The two
groups come from normally distributed populations. The confidence
level adopted was 95%.
Let’s Explore: TEACHING STRATEGY

1. What is the estimate of the

population mean where the
experimental group comes
from?
2. What is the estimate of the
population mean where the
experimental group comes
from?
DISCUSSION
For smaller sample size, t-distribution is used.
Instead of using
we use
DISCUSSION
For smaller sample size, to find the margin of error,
t-distribution is used.

Instead of using we
use
DISCUSSION
For smaller sample size, to find the upper and lower
boundaries:

Instead of using we
use
DISCUSSION
Degrees of freedom

 It is used in t-distribution.
 Denoted by , are the number of values that are free
to vary after a sample statistic has been computed
 They will tell us the specific curve to use when a
sample distribution consists a family of curve

(McClave & Sincinch 2003)

DISCUSSION: The T-DISTRIBUTION

(McClave & Sincinch 2003)

Try this!
Find the confidence coefficients for each of the
following:
1. n = 6, 90% confidence
2. n = 7, 90% confidence
3. n = 12, 95% confidence
4. n = 17, 95% confidence
5. n = 24, 99% confidence
6. n = 8, 99% confidence
7. n = 18, 99% confidence
Try this!

Find E given the following:

1. n = 6, s=2, 90% confidence
2. n = 9, s = 2.8, 90% confidence
3. n = 13, s = 4.5, 95% confidence
4. n = 16, s = 3.1, 95% confidence
5. n = 21, s = 5, 99% confidence
DISCUSSION

STEPS in COMPUTING the INTERVAL ESTIMATE

of the POPULATION MEAN WHEN in UNKNOWN

Step 1: Describe the population parameter of interest

Step 2: Specify the confidence interval criteria
a. Check the assumptions
b. Determine the test statistic to be used.
c. State the level of confidence
 DISCUSSION

STEPS in COMPUTING the INTERVAL ESTIMATE of the

POPULATION MEAN WHEN in UNKNOWN (Cont…)
Step 3: Collect and present sample evidence
a. Collect the sample information
b. Find the point estimate
Step 4: determine the confidence interval
c. Determine the confidence coefficients (from the t-table.
d. Find
e. Find the upper and lower confidence limits
f. Describe the results
 ACTIVITY 1: Teaching STRATEGY
Step 1
Describe the population parameter of interest

 The first parameter of interest is the mean of

the population where the experimental group
belongs.
 The second parameter of interest is the mean
of the population where the control group
belongs. b. Determine the test statistic to be used.
Step 2  The test statistic is the t, using
Specify the confidence interval criteria
= ______ and = ______.
a. Check the assumptions
 The samples of size 20 for each group come c. State the level of confidence.
from normally distributed parent  For 95% confidence,
populations and the for each group is .
unknown.  From t-table, df=19, the confidence
coefficients are ________ for each group.
 ACTIVITY 1: Teaching STRATEGY
Step 3
Collect and present sample evidence
a. Collect the sample information
There are 20 raw scores in each group
 From the experimental group

Step 4
 From the control group Determine the confidence interval

a. Determine the confidence coefficient

 Since , then the . The confidence
coefficients in the t-table under 0.95 is
b. Find the point estimate _______.
The point estimates for the population
means are the sample means. Thus, the point
estimate for and the point estimate for .
 ACTIVITY 1: Teaching STRATEGY
Step 4
Determine the confidence interval

b. Find the maximum error E.

 For the experimental group

c. Find the lower and the upper confidence

limits.
 For the experimental group
 From the control group and
Upper limit: 82.5 - 1.40 = 81.1
Lower limit: 82.5 + 1.40 = 83.9
 From the control group
and
Upper limit: _____- _____ = _____
Lower limit: _____- _____ = _____
 ACTIVITY 1: Teaching STRATEGY
Step 4
Determine the confidence interval

d. Describe the results

 We can say with 95% confidence that the
interval between 81.1 and 83.9 contains the
true mean of the experimental population
while the interval 77.2 and 82.8 contains the
true mean of the control population based on
the given sample data.
ACTIVITY 2: Mean age of entering Math majors

An admission officer of an educational institution

wants to know the mean age of entering Mathematics
majors. He computed a mean age of 18 years and a
standard deviation of 1.2 years on a random sample of 25
entering mathematics majors purportedly coming from a
normally distributed population. With 99% confidence,
find the point estimate and the interval estimate of the
population mean.
 ACTIVITY 2: Mean age of entering Math majors
Step 1
Describe the population parameter of interest

 The parameter of interest is the mean of

entering mathematics majors.

Step 2
Specify the confidence interval criteria
c. State the level of confidence.
a. Check the assumptions  For 99% confidence,
 The sample size of 25 mathematics majors .
comes from a normally distributed parent
population.

b. Determine the test statistic to be used.

 The test statistic is the t, using
.
 ACTIVITY 2: Mean age of entering Math majors
Step 3
Collect and present sample evidence

a. Collect the sample information

 The sample consists of 25 observations with .

b. Find the point estimate b. Find the maximum error E.

 The point estimate for the population mean is 
________.

Step 4
Determine the confidence interval = 0.67

a. Determine the confidence coefficient

 From the t-table, for n=25, df = 24. The 99%
confidence coefficient for this value from the
table t is _______.
ACTIVITY 2: Mean age of entering Math majors
Step 4
Determine the confidence interval

c. Find the lower and the upper confidence limits.

 and
Upper limit: _____ - _____ = _____
Lower limit: _____ - _____ = _____

d. Describe the results

 Thus, we can say with 99% confidence that the interval between 17.33 and 18.67 contains
the true mean age of the population of entering mathematics majors based on the sample of
25 entering mathematics majors.
Reflect

Compare and contrast a z-

distribution and a t-
distribution.
Test Yourself

A. Using the t-table, find the confidence

coefficients for each of the following:
1. n = 12, 95% confidence
2. n = 15, 95% confidence
3. n = 21, 99% confidence
4. n = 23, 95% confidence
5. n = 25, 99% confidence
Test Yourself
B. Assuming that the samples come from normal
distributions, find E given the following:
1. n = 10, = 28, s = 4.0, 90% confidence
2. n = 16, = 50, s = 4.2, 95% confidence
3. n = 20, = 68.2, s = 2.5, 90% confidence
4. n = 23, = 80.6, s = 3.2, 95% confidence
5. n = 25, = 92.8, s = 2.6, 99% confidence

C. Using the information above, find the interval

estimates.
Test Yourself

D. The mean scores of a random sample of 17 students

who took a special test is 83.5. If the standard deviation
of the scores is 4.1, and the sample comes from an
approximately normal population, find the point and the
interval estimates of the population mean adopting a
confidence level of 95%.
Test Yourself

E. The mean age of 20 youth volunteers in a community

project is 17.5 years with a standard deviation of 2
years. If the sample comes from an approximately
normal distribution, what are the point and the interval
estimates of the population mean? Use 99% confidence
level.
Test Yourself

F. The average weight of 25 chocolate bars selected from

a normally distributed population is 200 g with a
standard deviation of 10 g. Find the point and the
interval estimates using 95% confidence level.
Extension

Do you think that the t-test is a

versatile test in the sense that it may
be used for both small and large
samples? Explain your answer.