1. Chapter 7 Confidence Intervals and Sample Sizes
7.2 Estimating a Proportion p
7.3 Estimating a Mean µ (σ known)
7.4 Estimating a Mean µ (σ unknown)
7.5 Estimating a Standard Deviation σ

2. Example 1 TRICK QUESTION! BUT…
In a recent poll, 70% or 1501 randomly selected adults said they believed in global warming.
Q: What is the proportion of the adult population that believe in global warming?
TRICK QUESTION!
We only know the sample proportion s, We do not know the population proportion σ.
BUT…
The proportion of the sample (0.7) is our best point estimate (i.e. best guess).

3. Definition Point Estimate p µ σ ≈ p x s
A single value (or point) used to approximate a population parameter
Population Parameter
Best Point Estimate p σ ≈ p x s
Proportion
Mean
Std. Dev.

4. Definition Confidence Interval : CI
The range (or interval) of values to estimate the true value of a population parameter.
It is abbreviated as CI
In Example 1, the 95% confidence interval for the population proportion p is CI = (0.677, 0.723)

5. Definition Confidence Level : 1 – α
The probability that the confidence interval actually contains the population parameter.
The most common confidence levels used are 90%, 95%, 99%
90% : α = % : α = % : α = 0.01
In Example 1, the Confidence level is 95%

6. Definition Margin of Error : E
The maximum likely difference between the observed value and true value of the population parameter (with probability is 1–α)
The margin of error is used to determine a confidence interval (of a proportion or mean)
In Example 1, the 95% margin of error for the population proportion p is E = 0.023

7. What does it mean, exactly?
Example 1
Continued…
In a recent poll, 70% or 1501 randomly selected adults said they believed in global warming.
Q: What is the proportion of the adult population that believe in global warming?
A: 0.7 is the best point estimate of the proportion of all adults who believe in global warming.
The 95% confidence interval of the population proportion p is:
CI = (0.677, 0.723)
( with a margin of error E = )
What does it mean, exactly?

8. Interpreting a Confidence Interval
For the 95% confidence interval CI = (0.677, 0.723) we say:
We are 95% confident that the interval from to actually does contain the true value of the population proportion p.
This means that if we were to select many different samples of size 1501 and construct the corresponding confidence intervals, then 95% of them would actually contain the value of the population proportion p.

9. !!! Caution !!!
Know the correct interpretation of a confidence interval
It is incorrect to say
“ the probability that the population parameter belongs to the confidence interval is 95% ”
because the population parameter is not a random variable, its value cannot change
The population is “set in stone”

10. !!! Caution !!! Do not confuse the two percentages
The proportion can be represented by percents (like 70% in Example 1)
The confidence level may be represented by percents (like 95% in Example 1)
Proportions can be any value from 0% to 100%
Confidence levels are usually 90%, 95%, or 99%

11. Confidence Interval Formula
( y – E, y + E )
y = Best point estimate
E = Margin of Error
Centered at the best point estimate
Width is determined by E
The value of E depends the critical value of the CI

12. Finding the Point Estimate and E from a Confidence Interval
Point estimate : y
y = (upper confidence limit) + (lower confidence limit) 2
Margin of Error : E
E = (upper confidence limit) — (lower confidence limit) 2

13. Definition Critical Value
The number on the borderline separating sample statistics that are likely to occur from those that are unlikely to occur.
A critical value is dependent on a probability distribution the parameter follows and the confidence level (1 – α) .

14. Normal Dist. Critical Values
For a population proportion p and mean µ (σ known), the critical values are found using z-scores on a standard normal distribution
The standard normal distribution is divided into three regions: middle part has area 1 – α and two tails (left and right) have area α/2 each:

15. Normal Dist. Critical Values
The z-scores za/2 and –za/2 separate the values:
Likely values ( middle interval )
Unlikely values ( tails )
Use StatCrunch to calculate z-scores (see Ch. 6)
–za/2
za/2

16. Normal Dist. Critical Values
The value z/2 separates an area of /2 in the right tail of the z-dist.
The value –z/2 separates an area of /2 in the left tail of the z-dist.
The subscript /2 is simply a reminder that the z-score separates an area of /2 in the tail.

17. Section 7.2 Estimating a Population Proportion
Objective
Find the confidence interval for a population proportion p
Determine the sample size needed to estimate a population proportion p

18. Definitions
The best point estimate for a population proportion p is the sample proportion p
Best point estimate : p
The margin of error E is the maximum likely difference between the observed value and true value of the population proportion p (with probability is 1–α)

19. Margin of Error for Proportions
E = margin of error
p = sample proportion
q = 1 – p
n = number sample values
1 – α = Confidence Level

20. Confidence Interval for a Population Proportion p
( p – E, p + E ) ˆ
where

21. Finding the Point Estimate and E from a Confidence Interval
Point estimate of p:
p = (upper confidence limit) + (lower confidence limit) 2
Margin of Error:
E = (upper confidence limit) — (lower confidence limit) 2

22. Round-Off Rule for Confidence Interval Estimates of p
Round the confidence interval limits for p to
three significant digits.

23. Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Direct Computation
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.

24. Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Stat → Proportions → One Sample → with Summary

25. Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Enter Values

26. Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Click ‘Next’

27. Select ‘Confidence Interval’
Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Select ‘Confidence Interval’

28. Enter Confidence Level, then click ‘Calculate’
Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Enter Confidence Level, then click ‘Calculate’

29. From the output, we find the Confidence interval is
Example 1
Find the 95%confidence interval for the population proportion If a sample of size 100 has a proportion 0.67
Using StatCrunch
Standard Error
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
From the output, we find the Confidence interval is
CI = (0.578, 0.762)

30. Sample Size
Suppose we want to collect sample data in order to estimate some population proportion. The question is how many sample items must be obtained?

31. Determining Sample Size
p q ˆ n
(solve for n by algebra)
( )2 ˆ
p q
a / 2 Z
n =
E 2

32. Sample Size for Estimating Proportion p
When an estimate of p is known: ˆ ˆ
( )2
p q
n =
E 2
a / 2 z
When no estimate of p is known:
use p = q = 0.5
( )2
0.25
n =
E 2
a / 2 z ˆ ˆ ˆ

33. Round-Off Rule for Determining Sample Size
If the computed sample size n is not a whole number, round the value of n up to the next larger whole number.
Examples:
n = round up to 311
n = round up to 296
n = round up to 114

34. Example 2
A manager for E-Bay wants to determine the current percentage of U.S. adults who now use the Internet.
How many adults must be surveyed in order to be 95% confident that the sample percentage is in error by no more than three percentage points when…
(a) In 2006, 73% of adults used the Internet.
(b) No known possible value of the proportion.

35. Example 2
(a) Given:
Given a sample has proportion of 0.73, To be 95% confident that our sample proportion is within three percentage points of the true proportion, we need at least 842 adults.

36. Example 2
(b) Given:
For any sample, To be 95% confident that our sample proportion is within three percentage points of the true proportion, we need at least 1068 adults.

37. Summary Confidence Interval of a Proportion
E = margin of error
p = sample proportion
n = number sample values
1 – α = Confidence Level
( p – E, p + E )

38. Summary Sample Size for Estimating a Proportion
When an estimate of p is known: ˆ
( )2
p q
n =
E 2
a / 2 z
When no estimate of p is known (use p = q = 0.5)
( )2
0.25
n =
E 2
a / 2 z

39. Section 7.3 Estimating a Population mean µ (σ known)
Objective
Find the confidence interval for a population mean µ when σ is known
Determine the sample size needed to estimate a population mean µ when σ is known

40. Best Point Estimation
The best point estimate for a population mean µ (σ known) is the sample mean x
Best point estimate : x

41. Notation  = population mean  = population standard deviation
= sample mean
n = number of sample values
E = margin of error
z/2 = z-score separating an area of α/2 in the right tail of the standard normal distribution
page 338 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition

42. Requirements (1) The population standard deviation σ is known
(2) One or both of the following:
The population is normally distributed or
n > 30

43. Margin of Error

44. Confidence Interval
( x – E, x + E )
where

45. Definition
The two values x – E and x + E are called confidence interval limits.

46. Round-Off Rules for Confidence Intervals Used to Estimate µ
When using the original set of data, round the confidence interval limits to one more decimal place than used in original set of data.
When the original set of data is unknown and only the summary statistics (n, x, s) are used, round the confidence interval limits to the same number of decimal places used for the sample mean.

47. Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Direct Computation
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.

48. Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Stat → Z statistics → One Sample → with Summary

49. Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Enter Parameters

50. Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Click Next

51. Select ‘Confidence Interval’
Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Select ‘Confidence Interval’

52. Enter Confidence Level, then click ‘Calculate’
Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
Enter Confidence Level, then click ‘Calculate’

53. From the output, we find the Confidence interval is
Example
Find the 90% confidence interval for the population mean If the population standard deviation is known to be 10 and a sample of size 42 has a mean of 38.4
Using StatCrunch
Standard Error
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
Page 218 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition.
From the output, we find the Confidence interval is
CI = (35.862, )

54. Sample Size for Estimating a Population Mean
σ = population standard deviation
= sample mean
E = desired margin of error
zα/2 = z score separating an area of /2 in the right tail of the standard normal distribution
(z/2)  
n = E 2

55. Round-Off Rule for Determining Sample Size
If the computed sample size n is not a whole number, round the value of n up to the next larger whole number.
Examples:
n = round up to 311
n = round up to 296
n = round up to 114

56. Example
We want to estimate the mean IQ score for the population of statistics students. How many statistics students must be randomly selected for IQ tests if we want 95% confidence that the sample mean is within 3 IQ points of the population mean?
What we know:  = E =  = 15
/2 = 0.025
z / 2 = 1.96
(using StatCrunch)
n = • = = 97 3 2
Example on page 344 of Elementary Statistics, 10th Edition
With a simple random sample of only 97 statistics students, we will be 95% confident that the sample mean is within 3 IQ points of the true population mean .

57. Summary Confidence Interval of a Mean µ (σ known)
σ = population standard deviation
x = sample mean
n = number sample values
1 – α = Confidence Level
( x – E, x + E )

58. Summary Sample Size for Estimating a Mean µ (σ known)
E = desired margin of error
σ = population standard deviation
x = sample mean
1 – α = Confidence Level
(z/2)  
n = E 2