CONFIDENCE

INTERVALS
AND SAMPLE
SIZE OF
PROPORTION
Symbol used for Proportion Notation

𝒑 ∶ 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝒑 ∶ 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
For sample proportion:
𝑿
𝒑=
𝒏
𝒒=𝟏−𝒑
Where X is the number of subject
posses the characteristics of interest
and n is the sample size
 Example
In a recent survey of 150 households, 54 had central air
conditioning. Find 𝑝 and 𝑞 , where 𝑝 is the proportion of
households that have central air conditioning.

Solution:
X = 54 n = 150

𝑋 54
𝑝= = = 0.36
𝑛 150

𝑞 = 1 − 𝑝 = 1 − 0.36 = 0.64
Confidence Interval for Proportion

𝒑𝒒 𝒑𝒒
𝒑 − 𝒁𝜶 < 𝒑 < 𝒑 + 𝒁𝜶
𝟐 𝒏 𝟐 𝒏
When 𝒏𝒑 and 𝒏𝒒 are greater than or
equal to 5
 Example
A sample of 500 nursing applications included 60 from men. Find
the 90% confidence interval of the true proportion of men who
applied to the nursing program.

Solution:
X = 60; n = 500 𝒑𝒒 𝒑𝒒
𝒑 − 𝒁𝜶 < 𝒑 < 𝒑 + 𝒁𝜶
𝑋 60 𝟐 𝒏 𝟐 𝒏
𝑝= = = 0.12 0.12 0.88 0.12 0.88
𝑛 500 0.12 − 1.65 < 𝑝 < 0.12 + 1.65
500 500
0.096 < p < 0.145
𝑞 = 0.88
𝒁𝜶 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟓
𝟐
 Example
A survey of 1721 people found that 15.9% of individuals purchase
religious books at a Christian bookstore. Find the 95% confidence
interval of the true proportion of people who purchase their
religious books at a Christian bookstore.

Solution:
n = 1721 𝒑𝒒 𝒑𝒒
𝒑 − 𝒁𝜶 < 𝒑 < 𝒑 + 𝒁𝜶
𝟐 𝒏 𝟐 𝒏
𝑝 = 15.9% = 0.159
0.159 0.841 0.159 0.841
0.159 − 1.96 < 𝑝 < 0.159 + 1.96
1721 1721
𝑞 = 0.841 0.142 < p < 0.176
𝒁𝜶 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟔
𝟐