Student’s T-

distribution
The t-distribution ( aka, students t-distribution) is a probability
distribution that is used to estimate population parameters
when the sample size is small and/or when the population
variance is unknown.

It was developed by William Sealy Gosset in 1908

If and s are the mean and standard deviation, respectively, of a
random sample of size n taken from a normally distributed
population with a mean, can be standardized as

The formula is used when and the population standard

deviation is unknown

The T-distribution with degrees of freedom

Properties of t-distribution
1. The t-distribution is symmetrical about 0
2. The t – distribution is bell shaped like the normal distribution
but has heavier tales.
3. The mean, median and the mode of the t-distribution is equal
to zero
4. The variance is always greater than 1. it is equal to
Where v is the number of degrees of freedom.
5. As the degrees of freedom increase, the t-distribution curve
looks more and more like the normal distribution.
6. The standard deviation of t-distribution varies with the
sample size
7. The total area under at t-distribution curve is 1 or 100%
Identifying Percentile using t-
table
T-distribution
T-distribution is used for the following reasons:

1. When the population standard deviation is unknown

2. The sample size is less than 30
Determine the t value based on the given sample size n and

N = 22, =0.01
Degrees of freedom
N-1
22-1=21
Find the values of t for which the area on the right tail of the t-
distribution is 0.05 and the number of degrees of freedom is
equal to: a) 15 b)28 c.)100
Find the 99th percentile of the t-distribution with 18 degress of
freedom

Df= 18
N=0.01
= 2.553
Find the 90th percentile of the t-distribution if the sample size is
25

Df= 24
P= 0.10
What is the area to the right of 2.4 under a t-distribution with 7
degrees of freedom

DF=7
T-value 2.4
P-value