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Chapter 8: Sampling Variability and Sampling Distributions

Key Terms and Concepts

Statistic Any quantity whose value is computed from sample data.
Sampling Distribution The probability distribution of a statistic: The sampling distribution describes the long-run behavior of the statistic.
Sampling Distribution of Eq1.gif (875 bytes) The probability distribution of the sample mean Eq1.gif (875 bytes), based on a random sample of size n.  Properties of the Eq1.gif (875 bytes) sampling distribution: Eq2.gif (923 bytes) and Eq3.gif (1015 bytes) (where Eq4.gif (865 bytes) and Eq5.gif (875 bytes) are the population mean and standard deviation, respectively). In addition, when the population distribution is normal or the sample size is large, the sampling distribution of Eq1.gif (875 bytes) is (approximately) normal.
Central Limit Theorem This important theorem states that when n is sufficiently large, the Eq1.gif (875 bytes) distribution will be approximately normal. The standard rule of thumb is that the theorem can safely be applied when n exceeds 30.
Sampling distribution of p The probability distribution of the sample proportion p, based on a random sample of size n. When the sample size is sufficiently large, the sampling distribution of p is approximately normal, with Eq6.gif (933 bytes) and Eq7.gif (1164 bytes) (where Eq8.gif (869 bytes) is the true population proportion).

Notes from Mrs. Caso


All of the formulas and important information can be found in the "Key Terms & Concepts" table above and:

The farther the value of π is from 0.5, the larger n must be in order for the normal approximation to the sampling distribution of p to be accurate. A conservative rule of thumb is that both nπ ≥ 10 and n( 1 - π) ≥ 10, then it is safe to use the normal approximation.  

Also, review the following:

Figure 8.5
Figure 8.8
Figure 8.10
Figure 8.11
Figure 8.12

Interactive Materials

Schedule

Timeline: 9 days
Day 90:
01/21/14
Discussion: Section 8.1 Against All Odds: Unit 22
Day 91:
01/22/14
Discussion: Exercises 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.6, & 8.9 MINITAB Lab: 8-1
Day 92:
01/23/14
MINITAB Lab: 8-1 (finish) Discussion: Section 8.2
Day 93:
01/24/14
Discussion: Exercises 8.10, 8.11, 8.13, 8.16, 8.19, & 8.22 Activity: Cents and the Central Limit Theorem.
Day 94:
01/27/14
Activity: Cents and the Central Limit Theorem. (finish) MINITAB Lab: 8-2
Day 95:
01/28/14
MINITAB Lab: 8-2 (finish) Discussion: Section 8.3
Day 96:
01/29/143
Discussion: Exercises 8.23, 8.24, 8.25, 8.28, & 8.31
Day 97:
01/30/14
Review: Supplementary Problems 8.32 - 8.37 (all)
Day 98:
01/31/14
Take Test: Chapter 8