• If the sample size is less than 30 (n < 30), it is considered

small,
• Thus, even if the variance of the population is given, the
formula for standardizing the sampling distribution of the
sample mean cannot be used.
• For this small sample, the normality of the distribution
sample mean cannot be guaranteed, thus, the z-table cannot
be used.
If 𝑥ҧ and s are the mean and standard deviation,
respectively, of a random sample of size n taken
from a normally distributed population with a
ഥ−𝝁
𝒙
mean μ, can be standardized as 𝒕 = a
𝒔⁄√𝒏
value of a random variable T following the t-
distribution.
• The formula is used when n < 30 and the population standard
deviation is unknown.

𝒙 𝟐
σ 𝒙−ഥ
• Recall: The sample standard deviation is computed as: 𝒔 = 𝒏−𝟏

• Degree of Freedom 𝒅𝒇 = 𝒏 − 𝟏
• Area (α) such as 0.005, 0.01, 0.025, etc. e.g. 0.05 or 5% on the right tail
of the t-curve for any values.
• 𝒕𝜶,𝒅𝒇 , e.g. 𝒕𝟎.𝟎𝟓,𝟐𝟎 means 𝛼 = 0.05 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑓 = 20
• Then, t=1.725
What is the t-value when 𝑛 = 22 at
𝛼 = 0.01?
• Referring to the t-table,
• 𝑑𝑓 = 22 − 1 = 21
• then, 𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟏𝟖
What is the area between 𝑡0.02 and
−𝑡0.01 ?
𝑃(−𝑡0.01 < 𝑇 < 𝑡0.02 )
= 1 − 0.01 − 0.02
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕
Find the t-value when μ=45, 𝑥=47,
ҧ s=4 and n=25. Find
the df and area based from the table.
ഥ−𝝁
𝒙 𝟒𝟕 − 𝟒𝟓 df = 25 – 1
𝒕= 𝒔 𝒛=
𝟒
𝒏 df = 24
𝟐𝟓
ഥ−𝝁
𝒙 𝟐 t = 2.492
𝒛= 𝒕=
𝟎. 𝟖 α = 0.01
ഥ−𝝁
𝒙
𝒛= 𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟓
df= 24 α= 0.87
t= 1.711