Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Statistics and Probability

SY 2024 – 2025

Unit #3: Sampling Distribution

Lesson #4: Sampling Distribution

Introduction
Hi, students! In this module, we will solve problems that involve sampling distribution that we
may apply in a real-life situation. Also, we will discuss the relationship of the standard normal
distribution and sampling distribution of the sample means on how to compute the probability of an
event to happen.

Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you should be able to know the different methods of data collection, types
of random sampling, and be able to construct a table of sampling distribution of sample means, with 90 to
100% accuracy. Specifically, you are expected to:
a. Distinguishes between parameter and statistics; M11/12SP-IIId-3
b. Identifies sampling distributions of statistics (sample mean); M11/12SP-IIId-4
c. Find the mean and variance of the sampling distribution of the sample mean. M11/12SP-IIId-5
d. illustrate Central Limit Theorem; and (M11/12SP-IIIe-2) and
e. defines the sampling distribution of the sample mean using the Central Limit Theorem.
(M11/12SP-III-3)

Pre-requisite Skills / Review

To start, let’s recall some basic concepts in statistics to further understand our lesson.

Population – Collection of all outcomes, responses, measurement, and counts that are of interest.
Sample – Subset of a population.

Example
In a recent survey, 400 college students at Far Eastern University - Manila were asked if they smoked
cigarettes regularly. 90 of the students said yes. Identify the population and the sample.

Responses of all
Responses
students at FEU
of students in survey
Manila
(sample)
(population)

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In connection with these, we also have parameter and statistic.

Parameter – A numerical description of a population characteristic.

Statistic – A numerical description of a sample characteristic.

Examples
The numerical value describes a population parameter or a sample statistic.
1. A recent survey of a sample of 450 college students reported that the average weekly income for
students is Php 325.00.
(Because the average of Php325 is based on a sample, this is a sample statistic.)
2. The average weekly income for all students is Php 405.00.
(Because the average of Php405 is based on a population, this is a population parameter.)

Now that we have recalled these terms, let’s proceed with our lesson starting with the sampling distribution
of the sample mean.

Lesson 4.1 – Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean

Sampling Distribution
The distribution of values for a sample statistic obtained from repeated samples, all of the same size, and
all are drawn from the same population.

Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean (SDSM)

The sampling distribution consists of the values of the sample means 𝑥̅1, 𝑥̅2, 𝑥̅3, 𝑥̅4, 𝑥̅5 .

Properties of Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean (SDSM)

1. The mean of the sample means, 𝜇𝑥 , is equal to the population mean 𝜇.
𝜇𝑥 = 𝜇
2. The standard deviation of the sample means, 𝜎𝑥 , is equal to the population standard deviation, 𝜎,
divided by the square root of the sample size, n.
𝜎
𝜎𝑥 =
√𝑛
This is called the standard error of the mean

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Statistics and Probability
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Constructing Sampling Distribution of the Sample Mean

Practice Problem 1
The population values {1, 3, 6} are written on slips of paper and put in a box. Two slips of paper are
randomly selected, with replacement.

1. Find the population N and the sample size 𝒏𝟏 .

Population size = 𝑵 = ሼ1, 3, 6ሽ = 𝟑

Sample size = 𝒏𝟏 = 𝟐

2. Identify 𝒏𝟐
𝒏𝟐 = (𝑵)𝒏𝟏
𝒏𝟐 = 32
𝒏𝟐 = 𝟗

3. List all the possible outcomes and its mean.

4. Solve for the mean, variance and standard deviation of the sample mean.

σ𝒙
Mean= 𝝁𝒙 = 𝒏𝟐

1 + 2 + 3.5 + 2 + 3 + 4.5 + 3.5 + 4.5 + 6

𝝁𝒙 =
9

30
𝝁𝒙 = = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟑
9

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1st Draw 2nd Draw Sample

̅ − 𝝁𝒙̅
𝒙 ̅ − 𝝁𝒙̅ )𝟐
(𝒙
(𝒙𝟏 ) (𝒙𝟐 ) Mean (𝒙
̅)

1 1 1 1 − 3.33 = −2.33 (−2.33)2 = 5.4289

1 2 2 2 − 3.33 = −1.33 (−1.33)2 = 1.7689

1 3 3.5 3.5 − 3.33 = 0.17 (0.17)2 = 0.0289

2 1 2 2 − 3.33 = −1.33 (−1.33)2 = 1.7689

2 2 3 3 − 3.33 = −0.33 (−0.33)2 = 0.1089

2 3 4.5 4.5 − 3.33 = 1.17 (1.17)2 = 1.3689

3 1 3.5 3.5 − 3.33 = 0.17 (0.17)2 = 0.0289

3 2 4.5 4.5 − 3.33 = 1.17 (1.17)2 = 1.3689

3 3 6 6 − 3.33 = 2.67 (2.67)2 = 7.1289

σ(𝑥̅ − 𝜇𝑥̅ )2 = 19.0001

𝟐
σ൫𝒙−𝝁𝒙 ൯
Variance = 𝝈𝟐𝒙 = σ൫𝒙−𝝁𝒙 ൯
𝟐
𝒏𝟐 Standard Deviation = 𝝈𝒙 = ඨ 𝒏𝟐
19.0001
𝝈𝟐𝒙 = 𝝈𝒙 = √2.11
9
𝝈𝟐𝒙 = 2.11 𝝈𝒙 = 1.4526

These results satisfy the properties of sampling distributions of sample means.

If; σ𝑥 1+3+6 10
Population Mean = 𝜇 = = = = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟑
𝑁 3 3

σ(𝑥−𝜇)2 (1−3.33)2 +(3−3.33)2 +(6−3.33)2 (−2.33)2 +(−0.33)2 +(2.67)2 12.6667

Population variance = 𝜎 2 = = = = = 𝟒. 𝟐𝟐
𝑁 3 3 5
σ(𝑥−𝜇)2
Population Standard Deviation = 𝜎 = ට = √4.22 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟓𝟒𝟑
𝑁

Then;
𝜇𝑥 = 𝜇
𝝁𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟑
𝜎2
𝜎𝑥2 =
𝑛1
4.22
𝝈𝟐𝒙 = = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟏
2
𝜎
𝜎𝑥 =
√𝑛1
2.0543
𝝈𝒙 = = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟓𝟐𝟔
√2

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Key Concepts

✓ Sampling distribution is the distribution of values for a sample statistic obtained from repeated
samples, all of the same size, and all are drawn from the same population.
✓ The mean of the sample means, 𝜇𝑥 , is equal to the population mean 𝜇.
✓ The standard deviation of the sample means, 𝜎𝑥 , is equal to the population standard deviation, 𝜎,
divided by the square root of the sample size, n.

Learning Activity

Guide Questions
a. What are the samples given by the speaker in this video?
b. In what way does the content of the video differ from the guidelines discussed? State your
answers.

Enrichment Activity

Draw all possible samples of size 2 WITH REPLACEMENT from a population consisting of 3, 4, 6, 8,
and 9. Form the sample distribution of sample means and verify the results.

Lesson 4.2 – Central Limit Theorem

Pre-requisite Skills / Review

Since this lesson is an application of both standard normal distribution and sampling distribution of sample
means, it’s better for us to recall the important concepts discussed from those lessons.

Let’s start by recalling how to get the areas under the curve. Before using the standard normal probabilities
table or the z-table, make sure that your values or scores are already transformed into a z-score. For us to
transform any value into z-score, we must use this formula:

x−
z=

After this, we can now proceed in finding the specific area by using these guidelines:
• To find the area to the left of z, find the area that corresponds to z in the Standard Normal Table.

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Statistics and Probability
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• To find the area to the right of z, use the Standard Normal Table to find the area that corresponds
to z. Then subtract the area from 1.
• To find the area between two z-scores, find the area corresponding to each z-score in the Standard
Normal Table. Then subtract the smaller area from the larger area.

Next, we must also recall the properties of sampling distribution of sample means. According to its
properties, the mean of the sample means, 𝜇𝑥 , is equal to the population mean 𝜇 and the standard deviation
of the sample means, 𝜎𝑥 , is equal to the population standard deviation, 𝜎, divided by the square root of
the sample size, n.

Now that we already recollect these terms, let’s now proceed to our lesson.

Approximations on Normal Distribution

On the previous lesson, the properties of sampling distribution of the sample mean (SDSM) have been
established. But take note that the sample size used to construct SDSM was small. In this case, let us
consider different sample sizes.

1. If samples of size n ≥ 30 are drawn from any population with mean = µ and standard deviation = σ,

then the sampling distribution of sample means approximates a normal distribution. The greater the
sample size, the better the approximation.

2. If the population itself is normally distributed,

then the sampling distribution of sample means is normally distribution for any sample size n.

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In either case, the sampling distribution of sample means has a mean equal to the population mean.
x = 
The sampling distribution of sample means has a variance equal to 1/n times the variance of the population
and a standard deviation equal to the population standard deviation divided by the square root of n.
Standard Deviation
Variance
(Standard Error of the Mean)

2 
 =2 x =
x
n n

As a summary, kindly refer on the figure below.

Practice Problem 1
Suppose the training heart rates of all 20-year-old athletes are normally distributed, with a mean of 135
beats per minute and standard deviation of 18 beats per minute. Random samples of size 4 are drawn from
this population, and the mean of each sample is determined. Find the mean and standard error of the mean
of the sampling distribution. Then sketch a graph of the sampling distribution of sample means.

SOLUTION:

• The mean of the sampling distribution is equal to the population mean

𝜇𝑥̄ = 𝜇 = 135

• The standard error of the mean is equal to the population standard deviation divided by the square root
of n.
𝜎 18
𝜎𝑥̄ = = =9
√𝑛 √4

• Since the sample size is greater than 30, the sampling distribution can be approximated by a normal
distribution with
𝜇𝑥̄ = 135 𝜎𝑥̄ = 9

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
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Learning Activity 1
Solve the following problems below.
1. Suppose the training heart rates of all 20-year-old athletes are normally distributed, with a mean
of 135 beats per minute and standard deviation of 18 beats per minute. Random samples of size
4 are drawn from this population, and the mean of each sample is determined. Find the mean
and standard error of the mean of the sampling distribution. Then sketch a graph of the sampling
distribution of sample means.
2. Suppose that the mean time for an oil change at a “10-minute oil change joint” is 11.4 minutes
with a standard deviation of 3.2 minutes.
a. If a random sample of n = 35 oil changes is selected, describe the sampling distribution of
the sample mean.
b. If a random sample of n = 35 oil changes is selected, what is the probability the mean oil
change time is less than 11 minutes?

Lesson 4.2.2 – Probability and Central Limit Theorem

The Central Limit Theorem (CLT) states that as the sample size gets large enough, the sampling
distribution of the mean can be approximated by the normal distribution. Furthermore, one can transform
a value of a certain distribution to its corresponding z-value by using the formula

As stated previously, if the sampled distribution is normal, then the sampling distribution of sample means
is normal. Also, CLT is not needed. But, if the sampled population is not normal, CLT tells us that the
sampling distribution will be approximately normally distributed under the right conditions.

Practice Problem 2

An investigator of a case of food poisoning found that the amount of salmonella in every serving of food
is normally distributed with an average of 3.7 colony is forming units per gram (cfu/ g) and a standard
deviation of 1.19 cfu/ g. What is the probability that a selected serving has at least 4.2 cuf/ g of salmonella?

Solution:

Since the variable is normally distributed, the distribution of sample means will be approximately normal
with the mean of 3.7. The standard deviation of the sample mean is 1.19

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1. Given: 𝑥̅ = 4.2 cfu/ g

𝜇 = 3.7 cfu/ g
𝜎 = 1.19 cfu/ g

2. Solve for z- value: 4.2 − 3.7

𝑧= 𝒛 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟐
1.19
1

3. Find the corresponding area for the z- value and the probability.
𝐴0.42 = 0.1628

𝑃(𝑋 ≥ 4.2)= 0.3372 or 33.72%

4. Conclusion
Thus, the probability that the selected serving has at least 4.2 cfu/ g of salmonella is
33.72%.

Practice Problem 3

Shinwa Company claims that the life of their battery products is approximately normally distributed with
a mean length of 8 hours of battery life when used in DC motors, with a standard deviation of 3.8 hours.
What is the probability that a sample of 10 batteries will have a mean lifespan of less than 6 hours in DC
motors?

Solution:
1. Given: 𝑥̅ = 6 2. Solve for z- value:

𝜇=8 6−8
𝑧= 𝒛 = −𝟏. 𝟔𝟔
𝜎 = 3.8 3.8
√10
N = 10

2. Find the area and probability:

𝐴1.66 = 0.4515
𝑃(𝑋 < 6)=0.0485 or 4.85%
3. Thus, the probability that a sample of 10 batteries will have a mean lifespan of 6 hours is 4.85%.

Key Concepts

✓ The Central Limit Theorem (CLT) states that as the sample size gets large enough, the
sampling distribution of the mean can be approximated by the normal distribution.
✓ If samples of size n ≥ 30 are drawn from any population with mean = µ and standard deviation =
σ, then the sampling distribution of sample means approximates a normal distribution. The
greater the sample size, the better the approximation.
✓ If the population itself is normally distributed, then the sampling distribution of sample means is
normally distribution for any sample size n.

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References

365 Data Science. (2017, August 11). Central limit theorem. YouTube. https://youtu.be/b5xQmk9veZ4

CrashCourse. (2018, June 6). The Normal Distribution: Crash Course Statistics #19. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/rBjft49MAO8

MATHRoberg. (2013, March 30). Central Limit Theorem Practice Problem #3. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5n25wNbKWg&t=13s

MATHRoberg. (2013, March 30). Central Limit Theorem Practice Problem #4. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmyr3Fi7Z9k

MATHRoberg. (2013, March 30). Central Limit Theorem Practice Problem #5. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEwu--ZGFeQ

MATHRoberg. (2013, March 30). Central Limit Theorem Practice Problem #6. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTdgVG1WbXY

Simple Learning Pro. (2015, November 26). Types of Sampling Methods (4.1). YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTuj57uXWlk

STA 270: Applied Statistics. (2014, October 5). Sampling Distribution of a Sample Mean. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ0DsE4vhqk

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