CONFIDENCE LEVEL AND

SAMPLE SIZE
FORMULA IN DETERMINING SAMPLE SIZE
WHEN ESTIMATING THE POPULATION MEAN

𝑧 .𝜎 2
𝑛=
𝐸
EXAMPLES:

1. In a certain village, Leony wants to estimate the

mean weight in kilograms of all six-year old
children to be included in a feeding program. She
wants to be 99% confident that the estimate of
mean is accurate to within 0.06kg. Suppose from a
previous study, the standard deviation of the
weights of the target population was 0.5kg. What
should be the sample size?
2. Joshua wants to replicate a study where the
lowest observed value is 12.4 while the
highest is 12.8. he wants to estimate the
population mean to within an error of 0.025 of
its true value. Using 99% confidence level,
find the sample size that he needs?
FIND THE SAMPLE SIZE

1. 99% confidence, E = 0.01, 𝜎 = 0.9

2. 90% confidence, E = 0.02, 𝜎 = 0.57
3. 95% confidence, E = 0.15, 𝜎 = 1.26
4. 95% confidence, E = 0.08, 𝜎 = 2.04
DETERMINING SAMPLE SIZE INVOLVING
PROPORTIONS

𝑧 2
𝑛 = 𝑝Ƹ 𝑞ො
𝐸
EXAMPLES

1. Mary wants to know, with 95% confidence,

the proportion of households who like to use
detergent X. A previous survey showed that
42% like to use detergent X. Mary likes to be
accurate within 2% of the true proportion.
What sample size that Mary need?
2. The Dean of a college wants to use the proportion
of a population to determine the sample size
needed to interview regarding their thoughts about
the new school structure. She wants to be able to
assert the probability 0.95 that her error will be at
most 0.05. Similar polls in the past showed that 65%
approved the new structure . How large sample size
does the Dean need?
FIND THE SAMPLE SIZE

1. 95% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝐸 = 0.12, ෞ

𝑝 = 0.38
2. 99% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝐸 = 0.20, ෞ
𝑝 = 0.38
3. 99% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝐸 = 0.25, ෞ
𝑝 = 0.38
SEATWORK: 1 WHOLE
(COPY AND ANSWER)
1. In a gymnasium, a physical exercise has a
mean length of 30 minutes with a standard
deviation of 6 minutes. A PE major wants to
estimate the true mean length of the exercise
with maximum error pegged at 0.5 adopting
the 95% confidence interval. How many
respondents does he need for a sample?
2. A politician engaged the services of a private
opinion pollster to determine the sample size
needed among his constituents to interview about
their perceptions on the freedom of information
bill. Previous polls revealed that approximately
62.5% are in favor of the bill. The politician
adopted the 0.99% level of confidence and off the
population value by at most 0.02.
3. Create a real life situation
about confidence level and
sample size.