SAMPLING DISTRIBUTION

Suppose random samples of n are drawn from a population with mean μ and standard deviation
σ. The mean μ^x and standard deviation σ^x of the sample mean ^x satisf

μ^x = μ and σ^x = σ/√n

Mean of the sample mean; [ μ^x = €^xP(^x)]

Standard deviation of the sample mean; [ σ^x = √(€(^x)^2P(^x) - (μ^x)^2)]

X, the measurement of a single element selected at random from the population; the
distribution of X is the distribution of the population, with the population mean μ and standard
deviation σ of the population.

P[z=(x-μ)/(σ/√n)]

SAMPLING DISTRIBUTION EXERCISES

(1) Let X be the mean of a random sample of size 50 drawn from a population with mean 112
and standard deviation 40.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X.

b. Find the probability that X assumes a value between 110 and 114.

c. Find the probability that X assumes a value greater than 113.

(2) The numerical population of grade point averages at a college has mean 2.61 and standard
deviation 0.5. If a random sample of size 100 is taken from the population, what is the
probability that the sample mean will be between 2.51 and 2.71?

(3) A prototype automotive tire has a design life of 38,500 miles with a standard deviation of
2,500 miles. Five such tires are manufactured and tested. On the assumption that the actual
population mean is 38,500 miles and the actual population standard deviation is 2,500 miles,
find the probability that the sample mean will be less than 36,000 miles. Assume that the
distribution of lifetimes of such tires is normal.

(4) An automobile battery manufacturer claims that its midgrade battery has a mean life of 50
months with a standard deviation of 6 months. Suppose the distribution of battery lives of this
particular brand is approximately normal.

a. On the assumption that the manufacturer’s claims are true, find the probability that a
randomly selected battery of this type will last less than 48 months.

b. On the same assumption, find the probability that the mean of a random sample of 36 such
batteries will be less than 48 months.
(5) A population has mean 128 and standard deviation 22.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 36.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 36 will be within 10 units of the
population mean, that is, between 118 and 138.

(6) A population has mean 1,542 and standard deviation 246.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 100.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 100 will be within 100 units of the
population mean, that is, between 1,442 and 1,642.

(7) A population has mean 73.5 and standard deviation 2.5.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 30.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 30 will be less than 72.

(8) A population has mean 48.4 and standard deviation 6.3.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 64.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 64 will be less than 46.7.

(9) A normally distributed population has mean 25.6 and standard deviation 3.3.

a. Find the probability that a single randomly selected element X of the population exceeds 30.

b. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 9.

c. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 9 drawn from this population exceeds
30.

(10) A normally distributed population has mean 57.7 and standard deviation 12.1.

a. Find the probability that a single randomly selected element X of the population is less than
45.
b. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 16.

c. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 16 drawn from this population is less
than 45.

(11) A population has mean 557 and standard deviation 35.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 50.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 50 will be more than 570.

(12) A population has mean 16 and standard deviation 1.7.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 80.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 80 will be more than 16.4.

(13) A normally distributed population has mean 1,214 and standard deviation 122.

a. Find the probability that a single randomly selected element X of the population is between
1,100 and 1,300.

b. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 25.

c. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 25 drawn from this population is
between 1,100 and 1,300.

(14) A normally distributed population has mean 57,800 and standard deviation 750.

a. Find the probability that a single randomly selected element X of the population is between
57,000 and 58,000.

b. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 100.

c. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 100 drawn from this population is
between 57,000 and 58,000.
(15) A population has mean 72 and standard deviation 6.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 45.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 45 will differ from the population mean
72 by at least 2 units, that is, is either less than 70 or more than 74. (Hint: One way to solve the
problem is to first find the probability of the complementary event.)

(16) A population has mean 12 and standard deviation 1.5.

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 90.

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 90 will differ from the population mean
12 by at least 0.3 unit, that is, is either less than 11.7 or more than 12.3. (Hint: One way to solve
the problem is to first find the probability of the complementary event.)

(17) A population has mean 128 and standard deviation 22 .

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 36 .

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 36 will be within 10 units of the
population mean, that is, between 118 and 138.

(18) A population has mean 1,542 and standard deviation 246 .

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 100 .

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 100 will be within 100 units of the
population mean, that is, between 1,442 and 1,642 .

(19) A population has mean 557 and standard deviation 35 .

a. Find the mean and standard deviation of X for samples of size 50 .

b. Find the probability that the mean of a sample of size 50 will be more than 570 .
THE SAMPLING PROPORTION

The sample proportion is a random variable: it varies from sample to sample in a way that
cannot be predicted with certainty. Viewed as a random variable it will be written ^p. It has a
mean μ^p and a standard deviation σ^p. Here are formulas for their values.

Suppose random samples of size n are drawn from a population in which the proportion with a
characteristic of interest is p. The mean μ^p and standard deviation σ^p of the sample
proportion ^p satisfy.

μ^p = p and σ^p = √(pq/n)

Where q = 1-p

SAMPLING PROPORTION EXERCISES

(1) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p = 0.37. Find the mean and
standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 1,600.

(2) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p = 0.82. Find the mean and
standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 900.

(3) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p = 0.76. Find the mean and
standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 1,200.

(4) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p = 0.37. Find the mean and
standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 125.

(5) Random samples of size 225 are drawn from a population in which the proportion with the
characteristic of interest is 0.25. Decide whether or not the sample size is large enough to
assume that the sample proportion ^P is normally distributed.

(6) Random samples of size 1,600 are drawn from a population in which the proportion with the
characteristic of interest is 0.05. Decide whether or not the sample size is large enough to
assume that the sample proportion ^P is normally distributed.

(7) Random samples of size n produced sample proportions ^p as shown. In each case decide
whether or not the sample size is large enough to assume that the sample proportion ^P is
normally distributed.

a. n = 50, ^p = 0.48

b. n = 50, ^p = 0.12
c. n = 100, ^p = 0.12

(8) Samples of size n produced sample proportions pˆ as shown. In each case decide whether
or not the sample size is large enough to assume that the sample proportion ^P is normally
distributed.

a. n = 30, ^p = 0.72

b. b. n = 30, ^p = 0.84

c. n = 75, ^p = 0.84

(9) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p=0.37. Find the mean and
standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 1,600.

(10) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p=0.82. Find the mean
and standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size 900.

(11) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p=0.76 . Find the mean
and standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size
1,200.

(12) The proportion of a population with a characteristic of interest is p=0.37 . Find the mean
and standard deviation of the sample proportion ^P obtained from random samples of size
125 .

(13) Random samples of size 225 are drawn from a population in which the proportion with the
characteristic of interest is 0.25 . Decide whether or not the sample size is large enough to
assume that the sample proportion ^P is normally distributed.

(14) Random samples of size 1,600 are drawn from a population in which the proportion with
the characteristic of interest is 0.05 . Decide whether or not the sample size is large enough to
assume that the sample proportion ^P is normally distributed.

(15) Random samples of size n produced sample proportions ^p as shown. In each case
decide whether or not the sample size is large enough to assume that the sample proportion ^P
is normally distributed.

a. n = 50, ^p = 0.72

b. n = 30, ^p = 0.84

c. n = 100, ^p = 0.12