CHAPTER 5 : ESTIMATION
ASSOC. PROF. DR. MUNZILAH MD. ROHANI
We typically use statistics
to estimate parameters
because:
1. It isn’t possible to examine
the entire population.
2. It isn’t feasible to examine
the entire population (e.g.,
too expensive).
In order for a calculated
statistic to convey
information about the
related population
parameter, certain
conditions must be met;
those conditions are
generally satisfied if the
sample used to calculate
quantity used to describe a quantity computed from a
the statistics is random.
population sample and is used to estimate
a population parameter and
describe the sample
If we have an unknown parameter, we may find an estimator
for this parameter and use for the parameter. However, how
reliable this estimate is we do not know know.
This is where confidence intervals come in.
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
How large sample is necessary?
The confidence interval for can be written as:
𝑥 ±𝐸 Margin of error
Example 5
Suppose that 100 samples of water from a fresh water lake are taken and the
calcium concentration (miligrams per litre) is measured. The average is 0.66
mg/l and the standard deviation is 0.049 mg/l. construct 95% confidence
interval for the population mean.
Example 6
A manufacturer is interested in the output voltage of a power supply used in a PC.
Output voltage is assumed to be normally distributed, with standard deviation
1.25V. How large a sample must be selected if he wants to be 99% confident of
finding whether the true mean differs from the sample mean by 0.3V?
Example 7
The comprehensive strength of concrete is being tested by civil engineer, he test 10
specimens and the obtained data presented as below. Construct a 98% confidence interval
for mean strength of the concrete
2590 2530 2510 2566 2541
2557 2582 2550 2583 2599
Example 8
Example 9