Prepared by:

Samuel D. Limaco
11- Reliability
Large Sample

Statisticians consider a sample of size 30

or more as large. If this large sample size is
taken from population with mean μ and
standard deviation σ, then the sampling
distribution of the sample mean approaches
the normal distribution with a mean    and
x

standard deviation  n , thus can be

standardized as:
x
z
 n
 CAUTION
xx
z
The formula  is for individual score/observation,
x
while z   n is for sample mean. Both formulas use the
z-table/normal distribution table.

As stated above, the formula can only be used if the

population variance or standard deviation is known. If the
population variance or standard deviation is not known,
the formula above still holds when the sample size is
large ( n ≥ 30). That is, the sample standard deviation s
can be used to replace σ. This is known as the Central
Limit Theorem.
If random samples of size n are taken from a
population with a mean μ and standard
deviation σ, then the sampling distribution of
the sample mean  approaches normal
distribution with mean    and standard
deviation   n , thus can be standardized as:
x

x
z
 n
As the n increases, the sampling distribution of
the sample mean gets nearer and nearer to
the normal distribution.
Note:
 If σ in unknown, compute the
sample standard deviation s then
use it to replace σ in the formula
provided that n ≥ 30.
 Even if n < 30, the formula can still
be used provided that the
population is approximately
normal and the population
standard deviation σ is known
 The height of pupils in Luna Elementary School has a mean of 121
cm with standard deviation of 5. If 50 of them are taken as samples,
what is the probability that their mean weight is less than 120cm?

Answer:

From the problem, μ=121, σ=5 , =120, and n= 50. Using the
formula:
x   120  121 x 1
z    1.41
 n 5 50 0.707
Using the z-table, the area below z=-1.41 is 0.0793. Thus the
probability that the mean weight of the sample is less than 120 cm
is 0.0793 or 7.93%.
 Opinion Research Corporation
reported that the average time of men
in the shower is 11.4 min. with
stardard deviation of 1.8 min. If the
times in the shower are approximately
normal, what is the probability that
the mean time for 20 randomly
x
selected men exceed 12.5 minutes ?
 Opinion Research Corporation reported that
the average time of men in the shower is 11.4
min. with stardard deviation of 1.8 min. If the
times in the shower are approximately normal,
what is the probability that the mean time for 20
randomly selected men exceed 12.5 minutes ?

Answer:
From the problem μ=11.4, σ=1.8,
x =12.5, and n=20. Though n<30, the central
limit theorem can still be used because the
population is known to be normal, thus,
 x
z 
 n
12.5  11.4
z
1.8 20
1 .1
z
0.402

z  2.74