Chapter 3 | Sampling and Sampling Distribution

3.4 The Central Limit Theorem

Statisticians are also interested in knowing the

distribution of the means of samples taken from a

population.

Central Limit Theorem

As the sample size n increases, the shape of

the distribution of the sample means taken from a

population with mean y and standard deviation o will

approach a normal distribution. This distribution will

have a mean y and standard deviation

Note that the standard deviation of the sample

mean is called the standard error of the mean.

The central limit theorem can be used to

answer questions about sample means in the same

manner that the normal distribution can be used to

answer questions about individual values. The new

formula to be used for the z values

X-M

Where:

X = sample mean

Chapter 3 Sampling and Sampling Distribution

It is important to remember the following when

applying the central limit theorem:

1. When the original variable is normally

distributed, the distribution of the sample

means will be normally distributed, for any

sample size n.

2. When the distribution of the original variable

departs from normality, a sample size of 30 or

more is needed to use the normal distribution

to approximate the distribution of the sample

means. The larger the sample, the better the

approximation will be.

Example 1.

The mean serum cholesterol of a large

population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl and the

standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. If a sample of 30

adults is selected, find the probability that the mean

will be between 220 and 222 mg/dl.

Solution:

X -μ

220.5 - 220

Z2 = -

16.3

= 0.17

130

The required area is between z = 0.17 and z = 0.5,

which has the corresponding area of 0.0675 and

0.1915. Hence, the probability that the mean will be

between 220 and 222 mg/dl is 0.1915 - 0.0675 =

0.1240 or 12.4%. That is, P(220 < x <222) = 0.1240.

Example 2.

An electrical firm manufactures electric light

bulbs that have a length of life which is normally

distributed with mean and standard deviation equal to

500 and 50 hours, respectively. Find the probability

that a random sample of 15 bulbs will have an

average life of less than 475 hours.

Solution:

474.5-500

Z1 = 50

-1.98

V15

Chapter 3 Sampling and Sampling Distribution

The area required is between z = 0 and z = -1.98,

which is the area of z = 1.98, that is 0.4761. Hence,

the probability that average life of a bulb is less than

475 hours is 47.61%.

ANTA