Chapter 7 Lesson 2 of 3
December 16, 2022
Objectives:
– Use the sampling distribution of a statistic to evaluate a claim about a parameter.
– Determine whether or not a statistic is an unbiased estimator of a population
parameter.
– Describe the relationship between sample size and the variability of a statistic.
Expectations for Group Work
• CAMERAS ON!
• One person (group leader?) share the document that you are working
on that day.
• Be in your group until the end of class time unless Mr. Z says you can
leave early.
• Be an active participant.
• Physically write your answers down to the warm-up and
questions. These are not just for discussion. Verbal answers are
not enough.
Note Check
1) Go around your group and ask at least one question you had from
the notes, starting with whomever is the oldest.
2) Attempt to answer each other's questions.
3) Come up with at least one question to ask Mr. Z when he enters the
room.
Warm-Up
According to a Gallup survey, Gallup’s U.S. underemployment measure
(February, 2017), which combines the percentage of workers who are
unemployed and percentage working part-time but wanting full-time work in
January, 2017, is 14.1%. Describe the sampling distribution for the proportion
of 150 randomly selected Americans that are underemployed.
Warm-Up (Answers)
According to a Gallup survey, Gallup’s U.S. underemployment measure
(February, 2017), which combines the percentage of workers who are
unemployed and percentage working part-time but wanting full-time work in
January, 2017, is 14.1%. Describe the sampling distribution for the proportion
of 150 randomly selected Americans that are underemployed.
The sampling distribution of a sample proportion is approximately normal if
𝑛𝑝 ≥ 10 and 𝑛 1 − 𝑝 ≥ 10. So here, 𝑛 = 150 and 𝑝 = 0.141. Since, 𝑛𝑝 =
150 ∙ 0.141 = 21.15 ≥ 10 and 𝑛 1 − 𝑝 = 150 ∙ 0.859 = 128.85 ≥ 10, the
sampling distribution of sample proportion of 150 randomly selected Americans
that are underemployed is approximately normal. The mean (𝜇𝑝 = 𝑝) is
𝑝(1−𝑝) 0.141 (0.859)
0.141, and the standard deviation 𝜎𝑝 = is = 0.0284.
𝑛 150
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
26. At a particular college, 78% of all students are receiving some kind of financial aid. The
school newspaper selects a random sample of 100 students and 72% of the respondents say
they are receiving some sort of financial aid. Which of the following is true.
a) 78% is a population and 72% is a sample.
b) 72% is a population and 78% is a sample.
c) 78% is a parameter and 72% is a statistic.
d) 72% is a parameter and 78% is a statistic.
e) 72% is a parameter and 100 is a statistic.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
27. A statistic is an unbiased estimator of a parameter when
a) the statistic is calculated from a random sample.
b) in a single sample, the value of the statistic is equal to the value of the parameter.
c) in many samples, the value of the statistic are very close to the value of the parameter.
d) in many samples, the values of the statistic are centered at the value of the parameter.
e) in many samples, the distribution of the statistic has a shape that is approximately Normal.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
28. In a residential neighborhood, the distribution of house values is unimodal and skewed to the
right, with a median of $200,000 and an IQR of $100,000. For which of the following sample
sizes is the sample median most likely to be above $250,000?
a) 𝑛 = 10
b) 𝑛 = 50
c) 𝑛 = 100
d) 𝑛 = 1000
e) Impossible to determine without more information
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
29. Increasing the sample size of an opinion poll will reduce the
a) bias of the estimates made from the data collected in the poll.
b) variability of the estimates made from the data collected in the poll.
c) effect of nonresponse on the poll.
d) variability of opinions in the sample.
e) variability of opinions in the population.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
30. The math department at a small school has 5 teachers. The ages of these teachers are 23, 34,
37, 42, and 58. Suppose you select a random sample of 4 teachers and calculate the sample
minimum age. Which of the following shows the sampling distribution of the sample
minimum age?
a) d)
b) e) None of these.
c)
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
33. Registered voters In a congressional district, 55% of registered voters are Democrats. A
polling organization selects a random sample of 500 registered voters from this district. Let
𝑝 = the proportion of Democrats in the sample.
a) Identify the mean of the sampling distribution of 𝑝.
b) Calculate and interpret the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of 𝑝. Verify that
the 10% condition is met.
c) Describe the shape of the sampling distribution of 𝑝. Justify your answer.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
35. Orange Skittles The makers of Skittles claim that 20% of Skittles candies are orange.
Suppose this claim is true. You select a random sample of 30 Skittles from a large bag. Let
𝑝 = the proportion of orange Skittles in the sample.
a) Identify the mean of the sampling distribution of 𝑝.
b) Calculate and interpret the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of 𝑝. Verify that
the 10% condition is met.
c) Describe the shape of the sampling distribution of 𝑝. Justify your answer.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
37. More Skittles What sample size would be required to reduce the standard deviation of the
sampling distribution of one-half the value you found in Exercise 35(b)? Justify your answer.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
39. Airport security The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for airport
safety. On some flights, TSA officers randomly select passengers for an extra security check
before boarding. One such flight had 76 passengers – 12 in first class and 64 in coach class.
TSA officers selected an SRS of 10 passengers for screening. Let 𝑝 be the proportion of first-
class passengers in the sample.
a) Show that the 10% condition is not met in this case.
b) What effect does violating the 10% condition have on the standard deviation of the
sampling distribution of 𝑝?
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
41. Do you drink the cereal milk? A USA Today poll asked a random sample of 1012 U.S. adults
what they do with the milk in the bowl after they have eaten the cereal. Let 𝑝 be the proportion
of people in the sample who drink the cereal milk. A spokesman for the dairy industry claims
that 70% of all U.S. adults drink the cereal milk. Suppose this claim is true.
a) What is the mean of the sampling distribution of 𝑝?
b) Find the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of 𝑝. Verify that the 10%
condition is met.
c) Verify that the sampling distribution of 𝑝 is approximately Normal.
page 485 (26-30), page 498 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43)
43. Students on diets Suppose that 70% of college women have been on a diet within the past 12
months. A sample survey interviews an SRS of 267 college women. What is the probability
that 75% or more of the women in the sample have been on a diet?
