11
Republic of the Philippines
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UNIFIED SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING MATERIALS
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UNIFIED SUPPLEMENTARY LEARNING MATERIALS
Grades 11 LEARNING AREA
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LESSON: The t-distribution
EXPECTATIONS:
After going through this lesson, you are expected to:
1. illustrate the t-distribution; and
2. identify percentiles using the t-table.
PRETEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. In the estimation process, t-distribution is an appropriate statistical test use when
______.
A. the sample size is less than 30 B. the sample size is at least 30
C. the population mean is known D. the sample mean is known
2. What critical values correspond to degrees of freedom equal to 28 and 90%
confidence level?
A. 𝑡 = ±1.699 B. 𝑡 = ±2.048 C. 𝑡 = ±12.045 D. 𝑡 = ±17.01
3. Suppose that a one-tail t test is being applied to find out if the population mean is
less than 50. The level of significance is .05 and 25 observations were sampled. The
critical value of t is:
A. 𝑡 = 1.708 B. 𝑡 = 1.318 C. 𝑡 = −1. 711 D. 𝑡 = −1.316
4. Find the area under the t-distribution from t = -2.228 to t = 2.228 when n = 11.
A. 0.90 B. 0.95 C. 0.975 D. 0.995
5. Identify the percentile rank of the t-distribution when t = 1.699 and df = 29.
A. 90th B. 95th C. 97.5th D. 99.5th
LOOKING BACK
Before you proceed to this lesson, try to answer the question below to assess what
you have learned from the past lessons.
A group of 500 Grade 11 students took an achievement test. The scores have a
normal distribution, and the population mean and variance of the scores are 85 and 16,
respectively. Determine the sampling distribution of the sample means of the scores
with a sample size of 100.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
There are situations in which using the normal distribution is not appropriate,
especially when the sample size is smaller than 30 and, the population variance is
unknown. In times like this, we can use t-distribution.
William S. Gosset was the statistician who discovered the t-distribution in 1908.
The t-distribution is a probability distribution that is used to estimate population
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parameters when the sample size is small and/or when the population variance is
unknown. To compute for test-statistic t we use the formula:
x
t s
n
where 𝑥̅ = sample mean, μ = population mean, s = sample standard deviation,
and n = sample size.
Listed below are some of the properties of a t-distribution:
1. It is unimodal, symmetric, and bell-shaped, just like a normal distribution.
2. Its variance is greater than 1 which makes the distribution wider and flatter in
the middle.
3. The shape depends on the sample size n.
4. The greater the sample size is, the closer the t-distribution gets to the standard
normal curve. The smaller the sample size is, the more tails of the distribution
get stretched.
5. The total area under the curve is exactly equal to 1.
As you can see in the figure below, the t-distribution approaches the z-
distribution as the sample size gets larger.
z-distribution
t-distribution (n is close to 30)
t-distribution (n is smaller than 30)
Figure 1. z-distribution and t-distribution
In a normal distribution, the z-table is used to find the critical values. In t-
distribution, the t-table is used to find the critical values.
To find the critical values of a t-distribution, simply follow the given steps:
Step 1: Determine the alpha error (denoted as α). The alpha error is the probability
that the population parameter is not in the confidence interval. To compute for
α, simply subtract the confidence level from 100% or 1.
Step 2: Identify whether a two-tailed test, 𝛼⁄2, or a one-tailed test, α is used. The two-
tailed test is used when the estimated values of parameter and mean can be
hypothesized from both ends of the distribution. However, it is possible that it
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can be done from only one end of the distribution with certain hypotheses. In
such cases, the one-tailed test is used.
Step 3: Compute for the degrees of freedom. The degrees of freedom (df) is the number
of values that are free to vary after a sample statistic has been computed. They
tell us the specific curve to be used when a distribution consists of a family of
curves. To compute the df, we use the formula: 𝑑𝑓 = 𝑛 − 1, where n is the
sample size.
Step 4: Using the t-table, determine the critical t-value by finding the intersection of df
and α. The df is the row and α is the column. If you will use the two-tailed test,
you will have two critical values, one is positive and the other is negative because
the t-distribution is symmetric. But if you will use the one-tailed test, the sign
will depend on whether the critical value is at the right tail or at the left tail.
One-tailed test 0.1 0.05 0.025 0.01 0.005 0.001 0.0005
Two-tailed test 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.02 0.01 0.002 0.001
df
1 3.078 6.314 12.706 31.821 63.656 318.289 636.578
2 1.886 2.920 4.303 6.965 9.925 22.328 31.600
3 1.638 2.353 3.182 4.541 5.841 10.214 12.924
4 1.533 2.132 2.776 3.747 4.604 7.173 8.610
5 1.476 2.015 2.571 3.365 4.032 5.894 6.869
6 1.440 1.943 2.447 3.143 3.707 5.208 5.959
7 1.415 1.895 2.365 2.998 3.499 4.785 5.408
8 1.397 1.860 2.306 2.896 3.355 4.501 5.041
9 1.383 1.833 2.262 2.821 3.250 4.297 4.781
10 1.372 1.812 2.228 2.764 3.169 4.144 4.587
11 1.363 1.796 2.201 2.718 3.106 4.025 4.437
12 1.356 1.782 2.179 2.681 3.055 3.930 4.318
13 1.350 1.771 2.160 2.650 3.012 3.852 4.221
14 1.345 1.761 2.145 2.624 2.977 3.787 4.140
15 1.341 1.753 2.131 2.602 2.947 3.733 4.073
16 1.337 1.746 2.120 2.583 2.921 3.686 4.015
17 1.333 1.740 2.110 2.567 2.898 3.646 3.965
18 1.330 1.734 2.101 2.552 2.878 3.610 3.922
19 1.328 1.729 2.093 2.539 2.861 3.579 3.883
20 1.325 1.725 2.086 2.528 2.845 3.552 3.850
21 1.323 1.721 2.080 2.518 2.831 3.527 3.819
22 1.321 1.717 2.074 2.508 2.819 3.505 3.792
23 1.319 1.714 2.069 2.500 2.807 3.485 3.768
24 1.318 1.711 2.064 2.492 2.797 3.467 3.745
25 1.316 1.708 2.060 2.485 2.787 3.450 3.725
26 1.315 1.706 2.056 2.479 2.779 3.435 3.707
27 1.314 1.703 2.052 2.473 2.771 3.421 3.689
28 1.313 1.701 2.048 2.467 2.763 3.408 3.674
29 1.311 1.699 2.045 2.462 2.756 3.396 3.660
30 1.310 1.697 2.042 2.457 2.750 3.385 3.646
Figure 2. t-table
After finding the critical values, you can also construct the t-distribution for
better understanding. To construct the t-distribution, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Plot the critical values of t on the curve.
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Step 2: Shade the region of the confidence level. The region of confidence level will be
the area between the critical values.
Step 3: Label the region of alpha error. The region of alpha error will be the unshaded
area.
Now, let us practice what you have learned.
Illustrating a t-distribution
Using the t-table, find the critical values and construct the t-distribution of the
following examples.
Example 1:
What are the critical values of t for area in two tails when the sample size is 17
and the confidence level is 95%? Construct its t-distribution.
Solution:
Let us start by identifying the given information,
Sample size (𝑛) = 17, confidence level = 95%
Now, follow the steps given above
Step 1: Determine the alpha error.
α = 1 - confidence level
α = 1 - 0.95 = 0.05
Step 2: Determine whether it is a two-tailed test or a one-tailed test.
𝛼 0.05
Since we are looking for the critical values in two tails, then = = 0.025
2 2
(This value tends to be in one-tail in both ends)
Step 3: Compute for the degrees of freedom.
df = n – 1 = 17 – 1 = 16
Step 4: Find the intersection of df and α.
Using the t-table, determine the t-value by finding the intersection of df = 16
and α = 0.05 in two tails.
Area in two tails
df
0.20 0.10 0.05
16 2.120
Critical values of t = 2.120 (at the right) and t = -2.120 (at the left)
In constructing the t-distribution, follow the steps below:
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Step 1: Plot the critical values of t on the curve.
t = -2.120 t = 2.120
Step 2: Shade the region of confidence level.
t = -2.120 t = 2.120
Step 3: Label the region of alpha error.
Therefore, the t-distribution of a sample size of 17 with 95% confidence level is:
95%
α = 0.025% α = 0.025%
t = -2.120 t = -2.120
Activity 1
Given: n = 6, 90% confidence level, critical
values in two tails. Find the critical
values, then construct the t-distribution
from the given z-distribution.
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Finding the area and percentile under the t-distribution.
At this point, you already know the illustration of a t-distribution and how to
construct one. Now, let me reverse the procedure. What if you are asked to look for the
confidence level (area under the curve) and the given are its critical value and sample
size?
One of the properties of a t-distribution is its similarity to standard distribution.
The total area under the curve is equal to 100% or 1 and, the curve is symmetric about
the mean. It means that the distribution on the left is the same as the distribution on
the right.
The percentile of a t-distribution indicates the value that falls below a particular
value in a set of observations. For example, the 75th percentile is the value where 75%
of the values lie below it, and 25% lies above it.
Example 1
Find the area and the corresponding percentiles under the t-distribution from
t = -1.746 and t = 1.746 with sample size of 17.
Solution:
To find the area or the confidence level and percentile, let us identify and
illustrate the given.
Given:
Critical values of t =
1.746 and t = -1.746 ?
Sample Size (n) = 17
nth percentile mth percentile
t = -1.746 t = 1.746
Step 1: Determine the degrees of freedom.
df = n - 1
df = 17 – 1 = 16
Step 2: On the t-table, locate the row of 𝑑𝑓 = 16 and α where the critical values
1.746 and -1.746 belong. Since we have 2 critical values, then this is in two-
tailed test.
Area in two tails
df
0.20 0.10 0.05
16 1.337 1.746 2.120
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0.10
Therefore, α = 0.10. Since this is in two-tailed test, then = 0.05 is the area in
2
one tail.
Step 3: Find the area under the curve by subtracting 1 to α.
Area = 1 - α
Area = 1 - 0.10 = 0.90
Thus, the area under the curve
from t = -1.746 and t = 1.746
is 0.90 or 90%. The critical 90%
value -1.746 is the 5th
5th 95th percentile
percentile and 1.746 is the
95 percentile.
th
t = -1.746 t = 1.746
Activity 2
Find the area under the t-distribution from t = -2.060 to t = 2.060 when n = 26, then
illustrate the t-distribution.
CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Directions: Show the step-by-step process in solving the following problems.
1. What are the critical values of t for area in two tails when the sample size is 24 with
confidence level of 98%?
2. Find the area to the left of critical value t = 2.500 when sample size is 24.
POST TEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Which of the following is true about the t-distribution?
A. A t-distribution is composed of bell-shaped curves. Each curve represents a
degree of freedom.
B. As the sample size decreases, the t-distribution approaches the standard
normal distribution.
C. The population is not normally distributed.
D. The distribution at the left of the mean is not the same as the distribution at
the right of the mean.
2. This table shows the probabilities/ areas of the t-distribution for different degrees of
freedom. This is used to find the critical values of t.
A. c-table B. d-table C. t-table D. z-table
3. What are the critical values of t when n = 25 and the confidence level = 90% in two
tails?
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