DESCRIBING THE SAMPLING

DISTRIBUTION OF THE SAMPLE

MEANS FROM AN INFINITE
POPULATION
 EXAMPLE 1

A population has a mean of 60 and a

standard deviation of 5. A random sample of 16
measurements is drawn from this population.
Describe the sampling distribution of the sample
means by computing its mean and standard
deviation.
 WE SHALL ASSUME THAT THE POPULATION IS INFINITE
STEPS SOLUTION
1. Identify the given information. Here μ = 60, σ = 5, and n =
16
2. Find the mean of the sampling
distribution. Use the property that
μ μ
Ẋ =

μ =μ
Ẋ
= 60
3. Find the standard deviation of σ =
Ẋ
the sampling distribution. Use the
= = = 1.25
property that σ = .
Ẋ
 EXAMPLE 2

The heights of male Grade 11 students

are normally distributed with mean of 68
inches and standard deviation of the
resulting sampling distribution of the
means?
 WE SHALL ASSUME THAT THE POPULATION IS INFINITE.
STEPS SOLUTION
1. Identify the given information. Here μ = 68, σ = 3, and n =
25
2. Find the mean of the sampling
distribution. Use the property that
μ μ
Ẋ =

μ =μ
Ẋ
= 68
3. Find the standard deviation of σ =
Ẋ
the sampling distribution. Use the
= = = 0.6
property that σ = .
Ẋ
NOTE:

Standard Deviation is also

known as the standard error
of the mean.
IF SAMPLE IS DRAWN FROM A POPULATION, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
STANDARD ERROR OF THE MEAN IF THE SAMPLE SIZE IS:

1. increased from 50 to 200?

2. increased from 25 to 225?
3. increased from 200 to 400?
4. decreased from 600 to 40?