Minimum Sample Size

Suppose that we want to determine how many metals must be tested for its heat strength to ensure
that the 95% CI on for A238 steel cut at 60 has a length of at most 1.0 . Determine the number of
samples required when = 0.5 and = 1.
2
2 2 (1.96)(1)
=( ) =[ ] = 15.37
0.5

The minimum required number metals to be tested for its heat strength is 16 samples

Confidence Intervals and Sample Size for Variance and Standard Deviations

1.) Find the 95% confidence interval for the variance of the iron content of a bag of cement if a
sample of 20 bags of cements has a standard deviation of 1.6 grams.

In chi-square table, the 0.025 and 0.975 with d.f. 19 yield values of 32.825 and 8.907
respectively.

( 1) 2 2
( 1) 2
< <
2 2

(19)(1.6)2 (19)(1.6)2
< 2 <
32.852 8.907

1.5 < 2 < 5.5

You can be 95% confident that the true variance for the iron content is between 1.5 and 5.5
grams.

2.) Given the interval for the true variance in problem 1, find the 95% confidence interval for the
standard deviation of iron content.

( 1) 2 ( 1) 2
2 << 2

(19)(1.6)2 (19)(1.6)2
<<
32.852 8.907

1.2 < < 2.3

You can be 95% confident that the true standard deviation for the iron content is between 1.2
and 2.3 grams.
3.) Suppose a sample of 30 engineers are each given a construction project to finish. If the sample
has a standard deviation of 12.23 years, find a 90% confidence interval for the population
standard deviation.

2 = 17.708; 2 = 42.557

(30 1)(12.23)2 (30 1)(12.23)2

<<
42.557 17.708

101.925 < < 244.947

10.10 < < 15.65

We can be 90% confident that the standard deviation of the construction project of engineers is
between 10.10 and 15.65.

4.) Find the 90% confidence interval for the variance for the price in dollars of construction
materials. The data represent a selected sample of nationwide construction trade. Assume the
variable is normally distributed.

59 54 53 52 51
39 49 46 49 48

The variance of the data is 2 = 28.2

2 = 3.325
2 = 16.919

( 1) 2 2
( 1) 2
< <
2 2

(9)(28.2)2 2
(9)(28.2)2
< <
16.919 3.325

15.0 < 2 < 76.3

You can be 90% confident that the true variance for the cost of construction material is between
15 and 76.3.
5.) Given in problem 4, find the 90% confidence interval for the standard deviation for the price in
dollars of construction materials.

( 1) 2 ( 1) 2
2 << 2

(10 1)(28.2)2 (10 1)(28.2)2

<<
16.919 3.325

3.87 < < 8.73

You can be 90% confident that the true standard deviation is between 3.87 and 8.73 dollars.