Question

How many commuters must be randomly selected to estimate the mean driving time of Chicago commuters? We want 95% confidence that the sample mean is within 3 minutes of the population mean, and the population standard deviation is known to be 12 minutes

Answer 1

Solution :

Given that,

standard deviation =   =12

Margin of error = E = 3

At 95% confidence level the z is ,

= 1 - 95% = 1 - 0.95 = 0.05

/ 2 = 0.05 / 2 = 0.025

Z_/2 = Z_0.025 = 1.96 ( Using z table ( see the 0.025 value in standard normal (z) table corresponding z value is 1.96 )

sample size = n = [Z_/2* / E] ²

n = ( 1.96* 12 / 3 )²

n =61.4656(rounded)

Sample size = n =62