STUDY GUIDE

STATISTICS & PROBABILITY | UNIT 9

Estimating Parameter Values

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
Test Your Prerequisite Skills ........................................................................................................ 3
Objectives ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Lesson 1: Point Estimator for the Population Mean
- Warm Up! ........................................................................................................................... 4
- Learn about It! ................................................................................................................... 5
- Let’s Practice! ..................................................................................................................... 7
- Check Your Understanding! ............................................................................................ 11
Lesson 2: Interval Estimator for the Population Mean
- Warm Up! ......................................................................................................................... 13
- Learn about It! ................................................................................................................. 13
- Let’s Practice! ................................................................................................................... 15
- Check Your Understanding! ............................................................................................ 19
Lesson 3: Forms of Confidence Interval Estimator for the Population Mean (When
the Population Variance is Known or Unknown)
- Warm Up! ......................................................................................................................... 21
- Learn about It! ................................................................................................................. 21
- Let’s Practice! ................................................................................................................... 23
- Check Your Understanding! ............................................................................................ 26
Challenge Yourself! ..................................................................................................................... 27
Performance Task ....................................................................................................................... 29
Wrap-up ....................................................................................................................................... 30
Key to Let’s Practice! .................................................................................................................... 31
References ................................................................................................................................... 31

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Table of Contents
GRADE 11/12 | STATISTICS & PROBABILITY

UNIT 9

Estimating Parameter Values

When we conduct studies, we sometimes want to describe a
characteristic or an attribute of a certain population. For
example, we want to know the average age of the students in a
big university when they experience posting their first status in a
social media.

The parameter here is the average age of the

students. As researchers, we want to save energy,
time, and other resources as much as we could. For
this particular instance, it would be impractical to ask
all the students in the university to get the
information needed. With this, we only sample a few
students that will represent the population. But describing a sample does not give you the
parameter or the numerical value for the population. Instead, what we can get is a statistic,
a numerical value that describes a sample.

Now, how can this statistic represent the parameter? Is it reasonable enough to use the
statistic to represent the parameter?

In this unit, we are going to explore on estimating the parameters.

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Test Your Prerequisite Skills

• Computing the mean of a set of scores

• Finding the area under a standard normal 𝑧-distribution given a 𝑧-score
• Finding the 𝑧-value corresponding to an area under a standard normal
𝑧-distribution

Before you get started, answer the following items on a separate sheet of paper. This will
help you assess your prior knowledge and practice some skills that you will need in
studying the lessons in this unit. Show your complete solution.

1. Compute the mean of each of the following set of scores.

a. 2, 3, 7, 9
b. 4, 7, 9, 10, 12
c. 15, 19, 20, 26, 35

2. For each of the following items, find the area under a standard normal distribution.
a. area to the left of 𝑧 = 0.26
b. area to the right of 𝑧 = −1.34
c. area in between 𝑧 = 0 and 𝑧 = 2

3. Find the value of 𝑧 in the following areas.

a. The area to the right of 𝑧 is 0.025.
b. The area to the left of 𝑧 is 0.05.
c. The area between 𝑧 and 1.26 is 0.3962.

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Objectives

At the end of this unit, you should be able to

• illustrate point and interval estimations;
• distinguish between point and interval estimation;
• identify the point estimator for the population mean;
• calculate the point estimate of the population mean; and
• identify the appropriate form of the confidence interval estimator for the
population mean when (a) the population variance is known, (b) the population is
unknown, and (c) the central limit is to be used.

Lesson 1: Point Estimator for the Population Mean

Warm Up!

Guess It!

Materials Needed: list of categories for the game

Instructions:
1. This is a guessing game which will be played individually.
2. The teacher will provide a category that the students will guess. For example,
the students will guess the amount of money the teacher has in her coin purse.
3. In the first round of the game, each student will guess the category by saying a
certain amount. The nearest answer to the exact number will win the round.

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4. In the second round of the game, each student will guess the category by saying
a range of numbers to guess the category. Say, ₱36.00 – ₱42.00, in the category
of the amount of money in the coin purse. The nearest answer to the exact
amount will win the round.
5. Examples of each category are the following:
Round 1: amount of money in a coin purse, the number of students in the class
who passed the first quiz (assuming they do not know the results yet)
Round 2: weight of a person, height of a person

Learn about It!

What we did in the Warm Up! activity is an example of estimation. The guesses you made
are called estimators.

Definition 1.1: An estimator is a rule, typically written as

a formula, which tells us how to calculate
an estimate based on information in the
sample data.

In our activity, we are presented with two types of an estimator. These are called as point
estimator and an interval estimator.

Definition 1.2: A point estimator is used to estimate a

population parameter using a single
number. The resulting number is called as
a point estimate.

If you estimate the average age of the students in a class and say that 17 years old is the
average age of students in a class, then we call 17 as a point estimate.
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Definition 1.3: An interval estimator is used to estimate

a population parameter using a range of
values. The resulting values is called as an
interval estimate.

Using the same scenario as above, if you say that the average age of students in a class is
15 – 17 years old, then we call 15 – 17 as an interval estimate.

Now, these estimates may or may not be the actual value of the parameter. The gap
between an estimated value and the actual value of the parameter is called a margin of
error or the error of estimation. In the above scenario, if the actual value of the
parameter is found to be 18, and the point estimate is 17, then the margin of error is the
difference of 18 and 17, which is 1.

In order for us to best estimate the population mean, 𝜇, the point estimator 𝑋̅ is unbiased
with a standard error 𝜎𝑚 estimated as

𝜎
𝜎𝑚 =
√𝑛

where 𝜎 is the population standard deviation and 𝑛 is the sample size. For 𝑛 ≥ 30, the 95%
margin of error (𝐸) is estimated by

𝜎
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( )
√𝑛

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Let’s Practice!

Example 1: What is the best point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 if a sample
consisting of 19, 20, 26, 29 and 36 is obtained from the population?

Solution: The best point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 is the sample mean 𝑋̅. To
compute for 𝑋̅, we add the data then divide the sum by the total number of
the data.
19 + 20 + 26 + 29 + 36
𝑋̅ =
5
𝑋̅ = 26

Therefore, the best point estimate for the population 𝜇 is the sample mean
26.

Try It Yourself!

What is the best point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 if a sample consisting of
21, 32, 44, 50 and 53 is obtained from the population?

Example 2: A sample consisting of 12, 14, 18, 22 and 24 is used to estimate the population
mean 𝜇. What is the standard error of the point estimate of the population
mean 𝜇 when the population standard deviation is estimated to be 𝜎 = 3.25?

Solution: We use the formula for the standard error and substitute the values.

𝜎 3.25
𝜎𝑚 = =
√𝑛 √5
𝜎𝑚 = 1.45

Therefore, the standard error of the point estimate is 1.45.

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Try It Yourself!

A sample consisting of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 is used to estimate the population mean 𝜇.

What is the standard error of the point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 when the
population standard deviation is estimated to be 𝜎 = 4.04?

Example 3: A random sample of 𝑛 = 50 has an average of 60. It is estimated that the

population standard deviation is 2.11. Estimate the 95% margin of error.

Solution: The 95% margin of error is the computed by using the formula
𝜎
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( 𝑛). We substitute the given values to solve this.
√

𝜎
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( )
√𝑛
2.11
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( )
√50
𝐸 = ±0.58

Therefore, the 95% margin of error is ±0.58.

Try It Yourself!

A random sample of 𝑛 = 100 has an average of 110. It is estimated that the

population standard deviation is 33. 5. Estimate the 95% margin of error.

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Real-World Problems

Example 4: A random sample of 10 apples for delivery in a

local market has the following weights.

Apples Weight (in grams)

A 165
B 170
C 169
D 162
E 175
F 185
G 168
H 180
I 181
J 175

It is estimated that the population standard deviation is 7.2 grams. What is

the best point estimate for the population mean 𝜇 which refers to the
average weight of all the apples? Estimate also the 95% margin of error.

Solution: The best point estimate for the population mean 𝜇 is the sample mean 𝑋̅. To
solve for 𝑋̅, we add all the scores and divide it by the number of
observations.

165 + 170 + 169 + 162 + 175 + 185 + 168 + 180 + 181 + 175
𝑋̅ =
10
𝑋̅ = 173

Therefore, the sample mean is 173 grams.

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𝜎
The 95% margin of error is computed by using the formula 𝐸 = ±1.96 ( 𝑛).
√
We substitute the given values to solve this.

𝜎
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( )
√𝑛
7.2
𝐸 = ±1.96 ( )
√10
𝐸 = ±4.46

We can be fairly confident that the estimated mean of 173 grams is within
±4.46 grams of the true population mean.

Try It Yourself!

A random sample of 10 senior high school students has the following weight
measurements:

Students Weight (in kg)

A 48
B 52
C 70
D 58
E 60
F 58
G 65
H 75
I 52
J 62

It is estimated that the population standard deviation is 10.6. What is the best point
estimate for the population mean 𝜇 which refers to the average weight of all the
senior high school students? Estimate also the 95% margin of error.
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Check Your Understanding!

1. Tell whether the given situation represents a point estimate or an interval estimate.
Write P for point estimate and I for interval estimate.
____a. A teacher hypothesizes that each student in her class is 16 years old.
____b. A doctor says that his patients are aged 26 − 49 years old.
____c. A dietitian estimates the mean calorie intake of her clients undergoing a
specific diet is around 650 − 990 calories.
____d. A sanitary engineer estimates the amount of garbage in a village to be 2 tons.
____e. An electrician estimates the amount of voltage runs to an appliance to be
220.
____f. Eliza thinks that the average price of a kilo of meat in the market is around
₱220 − ₱240.
____g. Rowell measures the height of some of the athletes in their school. He thinks
that the mean height of their athletes in their school is 175 cm.
____h. A president of a company estimates the profit of the company to be
₱6 000 000.
____i. A college student estimates her tuition fee to be ₱15 000.
____j. According to a recent news, the population for next year is estimated to be
110 − 113 million.

2. What is the best point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 if a sample consists of
2, 5, 7, 12 and 19 is obtained from the population?

3. A sample consists of 59, 65, 88, 98 and 99 is used to estimate the population mean 𝜇.
What is the standard error of the point estimate of the population mean 𝜇 when the
population standard deviation is estimated to be 𝜎 = 4.28?

4. A random sample of 𝑛 = 30 has an average of 82. It is estimated that the population

standard deviation is 5.96. Estimate the 95% margin of error.
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5. A random sample of 10 bangus for delivery in a local market has the following
weights.

Bangus Weight (in kg)

A 0.94
B 0.88
C 0.91
D 1.03
E 1.09
F 0.99
G 0.87
H 0.88
I 0.98
J 0.86

It is estimated that the population standard deviation is 6.2. What is the best point
estimate for the population mean 𝜇 which refers to the average weight of all the
bangus? Estimate also the 95% margin of error.

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Lesson 2: Interval Estimator for the Population Mean

Warm Up!

Weight! I know It!

Materials Needed: weighing scale, different things that can be weighed

Instructions:
1. The activity will be done in groups with 5 members each.
2. The students will be guessing the weight of an object that will be shown by the
teacher.
3. Each group should give a range of values about the weight of the given object.
4. The guesses of each group should not coincide with the other groups.
5. To make the game fair enough, each group will be asked to give their estimation
first every round.
6. The group with the greatest number of correct guesses wins the game.

Learn about It!

In the Warm Up! activity, you were asked to give an estimate. This is specifically called as
interval estimate, which is another way of estimating a population parameter.

Definition 2.1: Based on sample data, two values are calculated

and used as the endpoints of an interval that is
expected to contain the parameter. This interval is
known as an interval estimate.
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For example, you need to estimate the average age of employees in a company. You may
say that the estimated average age of the employees is 23 – 34 years old. This range of
numbers is an interval estimate.

An interval estimate may or may not contain the parameter. The chance that the interval
estimate contains the true population parameter is referred to as the confidence level.

Definition 2.2: The confidence level of an interval

estimate is the probability that the
interval estimate will contain the true
population parameter.

A confidence level is denoted by 1 − 𝛼. Researchers often use 95% confidence intervals.

This means that the probability that the interval estimate will contain the true population
parameter is 0.95. Some values typically used by researchers are 90%, 95%, 98%, and 99%.

If an interval estimate is constructed by the help of a confidence level, it will be called as a

confidence interval.

Definition 2.3: A confidence interval is an interval

estimate of a parameter that is constructed
using a confidence level.

In order for us to construct a confidence interval, we can use the standard formula

𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛

𝛼
where 𝑍𝛼⁄2 refers to the 𝑧-value corresponding to the area in a right tail of a standard
2
normal 𝑧-distribution, 𝑋̅ is the sample mean, 𝑛 is the sample size, and 𝜎 is the population
standard deviation.

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The value of 𝑍𝛼⁄2 in the formula varies depending on what confidence level is going to be
used. We have learned from the previous lessons how to get the 𝑧-value corresponding to
an area under the normal 𝑧-distribution. This skill can be used in order for us to get the
value for 𝑍𝛼⁄2 given any confidence level. We can use the following table below for the
values of 𝑍𝛼⁄2 corresponding to the usual confidence level.

Confidence Level 𝜶
𝜶 𝒁𝜶⁄
𝟐 𝟐
(𝟏 − 𝜶)
90% 0.10 0.05 1.645
95% 0.05 0.025 1.96
98% 0.02 0.01 2.33
99% 0.01 0.005 2.58

Note that for any confidence interval, the margin of error should be one decimal place
more than the point estimate.

Let’s Practice!

Example 1: Construct the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 using
𝑋̅ = 26, 𝑛 = 40, and 𝜎 = 4.

Solution: To construct the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇, we
substitute the given values to the formula. Since the confidence level is 95%,
we are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 1.96.

𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
4
26 ± 1.96 ( )
√40
26 ± 1.2

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Therefore, the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(26 − 1.2, 26 + 1.2) or (24.8, 27.2).

Try It Yourself!

Construct the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 using 𝑋̅ = 20,
𝑛 = 36, and 𝜎 = 5.

Example 2: A sample size of 50 was taken to estimate a population mean 𝜇 and the mean
of the sample is computed as 35. It was estimated that the population
variance is 9. Construct the 99% confidence interval for the population mean
𝜇.

Solution: To construct the 99% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇, we
substitute the given values to the formula. Since the confidence level is 99%,
we are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 2.58. Getting the square root of the population
variance will give us the population standard deviation which will be 𝜎 = √9 =
3.

𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
3
35 ± 2.58 ( )
√50
35 ± 1.1

Therefore, the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(35 − 1.1, 35 + 1.1) or (33.9, 36.1).

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Try It Yourself!

A sample size of 64 was taken to estimate a population mean 𝜇 and the mean of the
sample is computed as 40. It was estimated that the population variance is 16.
Construct the 99% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇.

Example 3: A random sample of 100 was taken to estimate the population mean 𝜇. It was
computed that the mean of the sample is 12. If the population variance is
0.49, construct the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇. What
is the margin of error for the estimate?

Solution: We are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 1.645 since the level of confidence is 90%. With a
population variance of 4.9, the population standard deviation will be 𝜎 =
√0.49 = 0.7.

𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
0.7
12 ± 1.645 ( )
√100
12 ± 0.1

Therefore, the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(12 − 0.1, 12 + 0.1) or (11.9, 12.1). The margin of error of the estimate is ±0.1.

Try It Yourself!

A random sample of 50 was taken to estimate the population mean 𝜇. It was

computed that the mean of the sample is 25. If the population variance is 0.64,
construct the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇. What is the margin
of error for the estimate?
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Real-World Problems

Example 4: A car dealer wants to estimate the average number of automobiles their
store can sell for a single day. A random sample of 30 days gives a mean
number of 2.5 automobiles sold. If the population standard deviation is
estimated to be 0.45, construct the 95% confidence interval for the
population mean 𝜇 referring to the mean number of automobiles sold in a
day. What is the margin of error for the estimate?

Solution: We are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 1.96, since the level of confidence is 95%. To
construct the confidence interval, we substitute all values to the formula.

𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
0.45
2.5 ± 1.96 ( )
√30
2.5 ± 0.16

Therefore, the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(2.5 − 0.16, 2.5 + 0.16) or (2.34, 2.66). We can say that the mean number of
automobiles that can be sold in a day is between 2.34 and 2.66 automobiles
with a margin of error of ±0.16.

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Try It Yourself!

A dentist wants to estimate the mean age of her

clients visiting her clinic. A random sample of 50
clients has mean age of 22.5. If the standard
deviation is estimated to be 6.13, construct the 99%
confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇
referring to the mean age of the dentist’s clients.
Compute also the margin of error.

Check Your Understanding!

1. Construct the confidence interval for each of the following values:

a. 𝑋̅ = 32 ; 𝜎 = 1.2, 𝑛 = 30 , 1 − 𝛼 = 95%
b. 𝑋̅ = 25 ; 𝜎 = 5.11, 𝑛 = 40 , 1 − 𝛼 = 90%
c. 𝑋̅ = 12.1 ; 𝜎 = 9.11, 𝑛 = 55 , 1 − 𝛼 = 99%
d. 𝑋̅ = 36.9 ; 𝜎 2 = 30.6, 𝑛 = 58 , 1 − 𝛼 = 90%
e. 𝑋̅ = 54.15 ; 𝜎 = 4.98, 𝑛 = 100 , 1 − 𝛼 = 95%

2. In a study of 50 senior high school students, the mean number of hours per week
that they played video games was 20.5 hours. It was estimated that the population
standard deviation was 3.7.
a. Compute for the margin of error for a 95% confidence interval.
b. What is the 95% confidence interval for the mean time for playing video games?

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3. An environmentalist wants to know the average depth of a lake. He measures 32

parts of the lake and find that the average depth of the 32 measurements to be 4.2
ft. If the standard deviation of the population is estimated to be 5.66, solve for the
following:
a. Margin of error at 90% confidence
b. 90% confidence interval for the average depth of the lake

4. A sociologist found that in a sample of 50 retired women, the average number of

jobs they had is 6.5. The standard deviation for the population is 2.6.
a. What is the margin of error at 99% confidence level?
b. Construct the 99% confidence interval for the number of jobs the retired women
have.

5. A researcher wants to know the amount of money a person spends when they visit
a local supermarket. A random sample of 100 people revealed that they spend on
average ₱950. If the estimated population standard deviation is 40.5, construct the
95% confidence interval for the mean amount people spends when they visit a local
supermarket. What is the margin of error?

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Lesson 3: Forms of Confidence Interval Estimator for the

Population Mean (When the Population
Variance is Known or Unknown)

Warm Up!

Ready! Get Set! Construct!

Materials Needed: paper, pen

Instructions:
1. This activity will be done in pairs.
2. The teacher will mention about the parts of a confidence interval.
3. Each pair will be constructing a confidence interval on their paper and the first
pair who will raise their hand will say the confidence interval they constructed. If
they are correct, they will a get a point on that round. If they are incorrect,
another pair can steal a chance provided they raise their hand first.
4. The pair with the greatest number of points wins the game.

Learn about It!

In the previous lesson, we learned how to construct a confidence interval for a population
𝜎
mean 𝜇 using the formula 𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( 𝑛). This formula is used when the population
√
variance is known. What if the population variance is unknown?

There are two ways on how to construct a confidence interval if the variance or the
standard deviation of the population is unknown. One case involves a sample that is less
than 30, and the other one involves a sample that is greater than or equal to 30.
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If the sample size is less than 30 (𝑛 < 30), we can utilize the formula

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑡𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛

𝛼
where 𝑡𝛼⁄2 refers to the 𝑡-value corresponding to the area in a right tail of a standard 𝑡-
2
distribution, 𝑋̅ is the sample mean, 𝑛 is the sample size, and 𝑠 is the sample standard
deviation. This formula will be discussed further in the next unit as you discuss and
explore on a different kind of distribution called the 𝑡-distribution.

If the sample size is greater than or equal to 30 (𝑛 ≥ 30), we can utilize the formula

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛

𝛼
where 𝑍𝛼⁄2 refers to the 𝑧-value corresponding to the area in a right tail of a standard 𝑧-
2
distribution, 𝑋̅ is the sample mean, 𝑛 is the sample size, and 𝑠 is the sample standard
deviation. We can see the in the formula that the only difference from the formula from
the previous lesson are the numerators for the standard error of the estimate. In this
formula, we use the sample standard deviation in replace of the population standard
deviation.

This formula is based on a theorem we call as Central Limit Theorem. According to this
theorem, the sampling distribution of the mean more closely resembles a normal
distribution as sample size 𝑛 increases infinitely. Researchers and statisticians came up
with a rough estimate that a distribution assumes a normal distribution when 𝑛 ≥ 30.
Therefore, as long as the sample size is more than or equal to 30, we can use the 𝑧-
distribution to come up with the confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 with the
sample standard deviation as the numerator for the standard error. Note that this
theorem is only applicable for mean and not to other statistics.

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Let’s Practice!

Example 1: Construct the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 using 𝑋̅ = 5,
𝑛 = 30, and 𝑠 = 2.33.

Solution: Since the sample size is equal to 30, we can use the formula for the
confidence interval as dictated by the central limit theorem. We substitute
the values to the formula. We will use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 1.645 as we are about to use a
90% level of confidence.

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
2.33
5 ± 1.645 ( )
√30
5 ± 0.7

Therefore, the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(5 − 0.7, 5 + 0.7) or (4.3, 5.7).

Try It Yourself!

Construct the 90% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 using 𝑋̅ = 12,
𝑛 = 30, and 𝑠 = 3.15.

Example 2: A sample size of 80 was taken to estimate a population mean 𝜇 and the mean
of the sample is computed as 35 and a sample variance computed as 9.09.
Construct the 99% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇.

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Solution: In this problem, the sample variance is given. Getting the square root of this
value gives us the sample standard deviation, which will be 𝑠 = √9.09 = 3.01.
We are going to substitute this value to the formula together with the other
values. We are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 2.58.

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
3.01
35 ± 2.58 ( )
√80
35 ± 0.9

Therefore, the 99% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(35 − 0.9, 35 + 0.9) or (34.1, 35.9).

Try It Yourself!

A sample size of 40 was taken to estimate a population mean 𝜇 and the mean of the
sample is computed as 23.8 and a sample variance computed as 8.16. Construct the
95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇.

Example 3: A random sample of 50 was taken to estimate the population mean 𝜇. It was
computed that the mean of the sample is 12.6 and the sample variance is
7.16, construct the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇. What
is the margin of error for the estimate?

Solution: In this problem, the sample variance is given. Getting the square root of this
value gives us the sample standard deviation, which will be 𝑠 = √7.16 = 2.68.
We are going to substitute this value to the formula together with the other
values. We are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 1.96.

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𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
2.68
12.6 ± 1.96 ( )
√50
12.6 ± 0.74

Therefore, the 95% confidence interval for the population mean 𝜇 is

(12.6 − 0.74, 12.6 + 0.74) or (11.86, 13.34). The margin of error of the estimate
is ±0.74.

Try It Yourself!

A random sample of 100 was taken to estimate the population

mean 𝜇. It was computed that the mean of the sample is 54.6
and the sample variance is 30.86, construct the 90% confidence
interval for the population mean 𝜇. What is the margin of error
for the estimate?

Real-World Problems

Example 4: A dietitian took a random sample of 50 teenagers and found out that their
average daily intake of junk food was 1 235 grams per day with a standard
deviation of 105 grams. Construct the 99% confidence interval of the average
daily intake of junk foods of all teenagers.

Solution: To construct the 99% confidence interval for the average daily intake of junk
food of all teenagers, we are going to use 𝑍𝛼⁄2 = 2.58 and substitute this
value together with the other given values in the formula.

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STUDY GUIDE

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
105
1 235 ± 2.58 ( )
√50
1 235 ± 38.3

Therefore, the 99% confidence interval for the average daily intake of junk
food of all teenagers is (1 235 − 38.3, 1 235 + 38.3) or (1 196.7, 1 273.3). We
can say with 99% confidence that the average daily intake of junk food of all
teenagers is between 1 196.7 grams and 1 273.3 grams.

Try It Yourself!

The vegetable department of a local supermarket chain packs

onions in trays designed to hold approximately 1 pound of
onions. A random sample of 35 packages in the smaller onion
trays produced weight measurements with an average of 1.01
pounds and a standard deviation of 0.18 pound. Construct a
99% confidence interval for the average weight of all packages
sold in the smaller onion trays by this supermarket chain.

Check Your Understanding!

1. Construct the confidence interval for each of the following given values.
a. 𝑋̅ = 5 ; 𝜎 = 6.2, 𝑛 = 35 , 1 − 𝛼 = 99%
b. 𝑋̅ = 19 ; 𝑠 = 5.11, 𝑛 = 30 , 1 − 𝛼 = 90%
c. 𝑋̅ = 32.6 ; 𝜎 2 = 9.11, 𝑛 = 45 , 1 − 𝛼 = 99%
d. 𝑋̅ = 46.2 ; 𝑠 2 = 42.5, 𝑛 = 78 , 1 − 𝛼 = 95%
e. 𝑋̅ = 12.99 ; 𝑠 = 5.21, 𝑛 = 90 , 1 − 𝛼 = 95% 26
STUDY GUIDE

2. A quality assurance officer wants to estimate the number of defective gadgets a

box for delivery has. He samples 30 boxes and found that the mean number of
defective gadgets in a box is 1.8 with a standard deviation of 0.85.
a. Compute for the margin of error for a 90% confidence interval.
b. What is the 90% confidence interval for the mean number of defective gadgets?

3. A survey of 30 patients in a hospital found that the average number of days they
stayed in the hospital is 12.6 days with a standard deviation of 3.6 days. Find the
following:
a. Margin of error at 95% confidence
b. 95% confidence interval for the average number of days the patients stayed in
the hospital

4. A gym instructor wants to estimate the mean weight of the people visiting their
gym. A random sample of 50 people has a mean weight of 56.6 kg with a standard
deviation of 9.3 kg.
a. What is the margin of error at 99% confidence level?
b. Construct the 99% confidence interval for the mean weight of the people visiting
the gym.

5. Forty selected people were asked how long they eat their dinner at night with their
family. The mean time was 36 minutes with a standard deviation of 5.6 minutes.
Construct the 90% confidence interval for the mean time for dinner. What is the
margin of error?

Challenge Yourself!

1. A researcher wants to construct a 96% confidence interval for the population mean
𝜇. What should be the value of 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ?

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2. The interval (20.6, 26.2) is a 90% confidence interval. Construct a 95% confidence
interval for the same data. Use 𝑛 = 30.

3. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean if 𝜎 = 9 using the following
sample. Use one decimal place for the point estimate.

43 12 32 26 31 43 25 51 23 18
14 25 32 41 15 12 19 20 21 42
19 20 27 23 10 40 26 16 30 41

4. The general average of 30 senior high school students after one semester is
recorded as follows:

89 98 95 90 78 83 87 90 85 93
94 98 94 91 79 83 80 83 86 90
93 91 88 88 85 89 90 96 91 90

a. Construct the 90% confidence interval for the general average of the senior high
school students.
b. What is the margin of error?

5. A health care professional wishes to estimate the birth weights of infants. A

random sample of 40 infants has the following weights in kilograms.

2.3 2.1 2.2 1.3 1.7 1.1 1.0 1.4 1.8 0.9
2.5 2.8 1.2 2.3 2.1 1.2 0.7 0.8 1.7 1.9
0.9 1.4 0.7 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.9 1.1
1.5 1.8 0.6 0.5 1.9 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.3 0.9

a. Construct the 99% confidence interval for the mean birth weights of infants. Use
one decimal place for the point estimate
b. What is the margin of error?

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Performance Task

According to one of the teachers in your school, the senior high school students sleep for
7 hours a day on a weekday. You wanted to prove this claim by making a survey of 50
senior high school students. You will be asking the students about how long they sleep in
a regular weekday. Record the results of your survey. As a researcher, you need to
compute the mean and standard deviation of your sample.

Create a 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence interval for the mean time of sleep for senior high
school students. Provide the report three days after your teacher gives the activity. In your
report, the raw data should be present, and the computation should be complete.

Performance Task Rubric

Below Needs Successful Exemplary

Criteria Expectation Improvement Performance Performance
(0–49%) (50–74%) (75–99%) (99+%)
There are more There are 3-4 There are 1-2
Mathematical All solutions are
than 4 mistakes mistakes in the mistakes in the
Accuracy correct.
in the solutions. solutions. solutions.
The report lacks The parts of the
Completeness The report lacks The report lacks
more than 4 report are
of Report 3-4 parts. 1-2 parts.
parts. complete.
The report is
The report is The report is The report is
Punctuality of submitted late
submitted more submitted 1 day submitted on
Submission but within the
than a day late. late. time.
day.

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Wrap-up

Estimating
Parameter Values

Interval
Point Estimator
Estimator

Confidence Interval

Population variance 𝜎
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
is known √𝑛

𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑍𝛼⁄2 ( )
√𝑛
𝑛 ≥ 30
Population variance
is unknown
𝑠
𝑋̅ ± 𝑡𝛼⁄2 ( )
𝑛 < 30 √𝑛

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Key to Let’s Practice!

Lesson 1
1. 40
2. 1.81
3. ±6.57
4. 𝑋̅ = 60, 𝐸 = ±6.57

Lesson 2
1. (18.4, 21.6)
2. (38.7, 41.3)
3. (24.8, 25.2)
4. (20.26. 24.74)

Lesson 3
1. (11.1, 12.9)
2. (22.91, 24.69)
3. 𝐸 = ±0.91; (53.69, 55.51)
4. (0.932, 1.088)

References

Bluman, Allen G., Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach. New York: McGraw Hill
Education, 2013.

Stattrek. “Estimation in Statistics.” Accessed September 28, 2018.

http://stattrek.com/estimation/estimation-in-statistics.aspx

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