Interval Estimate of

Population Mean
with Unknown
Variance
Interval Estimate of Population Mean
with Known Variance

𝜎 𝜎
𝑥 − 𝑧𝛼 < 𝜇 < 𝑥 + 𝑧𝛼
2 𝑛 2 𝑛

This is the confidence interval previously introduced

– which is intended for known variance (or standard
deviation) only.
If the variance (or standard deviation) is unknown and
the sample is less than 30, we use this confidence
interval.
Interval Estimate of Population Mean
with Unknown Variance
𝑠 𝑠
𝑥 − 𝑡𝛼 < 𝜇 < 𝑥 + 𝑡𝛼
2 𝑛 2 𝑛
where:
𝑥 = sample mean
𝜇 = population mean
𝑠 = sample standard deviation
𝑛 = sample size
𝑡𝛼 = t-critical value
2
Example
The mean and standard deviation of the content
of a sample of 10 similar containers are 10.5
liters and 0.352, respectively. Find a 95%
confidence interval for the actual mean content.
Example
The mean and standard deviation of the content
of a sample of 10 similar containers are 10.5
liters and 0.352, respectively. Find a 95%
confidence interval for the actual mean content.
First, get the degrees of freedom. Since the
sample size is 10,
df = n – 1
df = 10 – 1
df = 9
Example
The mean and standard deviation of the content of a
sample of 10 similar containers are 10.5 liters and
0.352, respectively. Find a 95% confidence interval for
the actual mean content.
df = 9
Since the confidence level is 95%, therefore the
significance level is at 5% or 0.05. Look into the
table of t-critical values.
Therefore the t-critical value is 2.262
Example
The mean and standard deviation of the content of a
sample of 10 similar containers are 10.5 liters and
0.352, respectively. Find a 95% confidence interval for
the actual mean content.
𝑥 = 10.5
𝑠 = 0.352
𝑛 = 10
𝑡𝛼 = 2.262
2
Example
𝑥 = 10.5, 𝑠 = 0.352, 𝑛 = 10, 𝑡𝛼 = 2.262
2

𝑠 𝑠
𝑥 − 𝑡𝛼 < 𝜇 < 𝑥 + 𝑡𝛼
2 𝑛 2 𝑛

0.352 0.352
10.5 − (2.262) < 𝜇 < 10.5 + (2.262)
10 10
10.5 − 0.25 < 𝜇 < 10.5 + 0.25
10.25 < 𝜇 < 10.75
Example
The mean and standard deviation of the content of a
sample of 10 similar containers are 10.5 liters and
0.352, respectively. Find a 95% confidence interval for
the actual mean content.

10.25 < 𝜇 < 10.75

Therefore, the mean content of the similar

containers lies between 10.25 liters and 10.75
liters.
Confidence Interval for the Difference
Between Two Population Means
(Assume equal but unknown variances)
1 1 1 1
𝑥1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑡𝛼 𝑆𝑝 + , 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 𝑡𝛼 𝑆𝑝 +
2 𝑛1 𝑛2 2 𝑛1 𝑛2

𝑛1 − 1 𝑠1 2 + 𝑛2 − 1 𝑠2 2
𝑆𝑝 =
𝑛1 + 𝑛2 − 2

𝑑𝑓 = 𝑛1 + 𝑛2 − 2
Confidence Interval for the Difference
Between Two Population Means
(Assume unequal unknown variances)
2 2 2 2
𝑠1 𝑠2 𝑠1 𝑠2
𝑥1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑡𝛼 + , 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 𝑡𝛼 +
2 𝑛1 𝑛2 2 𝑛1 𝑛2

2 2 2
𝑠1 𝑠2
+
𝑛1 𝑛2
𝑑𝑓 =
2 2 2 2
𝑠1 𝑠2
𝑛1 𝑛2
+
𝑛1 − 1 𝑛2 − 1
Example
A group of 15 students was taught using a new
method of teaching math. A second group of 12
students were taught using the traditional method. At
the end of the grading period, the same exam was
given to both groups. The 15 students who were
taught using the new method made an average of 88
with a standard deviation of 8. The 12 students who
were taught using the traditional made an average of
80 with a standard deviation of 5. Find a 95%
confidence interval for the difference between the
population means assuming they are normally
distributed with equal variances.
Example
A group of 15 students was taught using a new method of teaching math. A
second group of 12 students were taught using the traditional method. At the
end of the grading period, the same exam was given to both groups. The 15
students who were taught using the new method made an average of 88 with a
standard deviation of 8. The 12 students who were taught using the traditional
made an average of 80 with a standard deviation of 5. Find a 95% confidence
interval for the difference between the population means assuming they are
normally distributed with equal variances.
First, it would be better to organize the givens using a table:

Population 1 Population 2
𝑛1 = 15 𝑛1 = 12
𝑥1 = 88 𝑥1 = 80
𝑠1 = 8 𝑠1 = 5
Example
A group of 15 students was taught using a new method of teaching math. A
second group of 12 students were taught using the traditional method. At the
end of the grading period, the same exam was given to both groups. The 15
students who were taught using the new method made an average of 88 with a
standard deviation of 8. The 12 students who were taught using the traditional
made an average of 80 with a standard deviation of 5. Find a 95% confidence
interval for the difference between the population means assuming they are
normally distributed with equal variances.
Next, find the degrees of freedom:

𝑑𝑓 = 𝑛1 + 𝑛2 − 2
𝑑𝑓 = 15 + 12 − 2
𝑑𝑓 = 25
Example
A group of 15 students was taught using a new method of teaching math. A
second group of 12 students were taught using the traditional method. At the
end of the grading period, the same exam was given to both groups. The 15
students who were taught using the new method made an average of 88 with a
standard deviation of 8. The 12 students who were taught using the traditional
made an average of 80 with a standard deviation of 5. Find a 95% confidence
interval for the difference between the population means assuming they are
normally distributed with equal variances.

𝑑𝑓 = 25
Since the confidence level is 95%, therefore the
significance level is at 5% or 0.05.
Therefore the t-critical value is 2.060
Example
Next, Solve for Sp (pooled sample standard deviations)

𝑛1 − 1 𝑠1 2 + 𝑛2 − 1 𝑠2 2
𝑆𝑝 =
𝑛1 + 𝑛2 − 2

15 − 1 82 + 12 − 1 52
𝑆𝑝 =
15 + 12 − 2

14 (64) + 11 (25)
𝑆𝑝 =
25

𝑺𝒑 = 6.84
Example
𝑡𝛼 = 2.060, 𝑆𝑝 = 6.84
2

Population 1 Population 2
𝑛1 = 15 𝑛1 = 12
𝑥1 = 88 𝑥1 = 80
𝑠1 = 8 𝑠1 = 5

1 1 1 1
𝑥1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑡𝛼 𝑆𝑝 + , 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 𝑡𝛼 𝑆𝑝 +
2 𝑛1 𝑛2 2 𝑛1 𝑛2

1 1 1 1
88 − 80 − (2.060)(6.84) + , 88 − 80 + (2.060)(6.84) +
15 12 15 12
 Example

1 1 1 1
88 − 80 − (2.060)(6.84) + , 88 − 80 + (2.060)(6.84) +
15 12 15 12

8 − (14.0904) 0.15, 8 + (14.0904) 0.15

8 − (5.46), 8 + (5.46)

2.54,13.46
This means that the difference between the two population
means lie between 2.54 and 13.46.
 Point Estimator of the Population
Proportion
𝑥
𝑝=
𝑛

𝑝 = sample proportion
x = number of elements in the sample having
the same characteristics
n = sample size
Example
In a random sample of 120 teachers, 48 of them
have master’s degrees. Find the point estimator.
x = 48
n = 120
𝑥
𝑝=
𝑛
48
𝑝=
120
𝑝 = 0.4
 Central Limit Theorem for Sample
Proportions
𝑝−𝑝
𝑧=
𝑝(1 − 𝑝)
𝑛

p = population proportion

np > 5 and n(1-p) > 5

Example
In a certain factory, it has been found out that
13% of the light bulbs produced daily is defective,
what is the probability of randomly selecting 80
bulbs and finding 16 (or more) of them defective.
Check first np and n(1-p).
np = (80)(0.13) = 10.4
n(1-p) = (80)(1-0.13) = 69.6

Hence np > 5 and n(1-p) > 5

In a certain factory, it has been found out that 13% of
the light bulbs produced daily is defective, what is
the probability of randomly selecting 80 bulbs and
finding 16 (or more) of them defective.
Next, solve for the point estimator.

16
𝑝= = 0.2
80
 0.2 − 0.13
𝑧=
0.13(0.87)
80
𝑧 = 1.86

Looking into the z-table under 1.86, the area is

0.4686

0.4686
1.86
 0.2 − 0.13
𝑧=
0.13(0.87)
80
𝑧 = 1.86

But we need the area of the right-hand tail

thus 0.5 - 0.4686, we get 0.0314

0.4686 0.0314

1.86
In a certain factory, it has been found out that 13% of
the light bulbs produced daily is defective, what is
the probability of randomly selecting 80 bulbs and
finding 16 (or more) of them defective.

0.0314

1.86

Therefore, there’s a 3.14% chance that 16 or more

bulbs in a sample of 80 are defective.
 You try
In a previous study, 1 in every 5 teenagers in
CARAGA region is engaged in PMS. What is the
probability of randomly selecting 60 senior high
students and finding out 6 or more of them are
engaged in such act.
Confidence Interval for the Population
Proportion

𝑝 1−𝑝 𝑝(1 − 𝑝)
𝑝 − 𝑧𝛼 , 𝑝 + 𝑧𝛼
2 𝑛 2 𝑛