Sample Size for
Proportions and Mean
Confidence coefficient, 𝒛𝜶Τ𝟐
describes the confidence level or the narrowness
of the margin of error from the sample statistical
measures
Examples:
At 95% confidence level, the confidence coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 1.96.
At 99% confidence level, the confidence coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 2.58.
For confidence level other than 95% and 99%, the confidence
coefficient can be obtained using the Table of Areas under the
Normal Curve (𝑧-Table).
Formulas for Estimating Minimum Sample Size
𝒛𝜶Τ𝟐 ∙𝝈 𝟐
• For estimating the population mean: 𝒏 =
𝑬
𝒛𝜶Τ𝟐 𝟐
• For estimating a population proportion: 𝒏 = 𝒑
ෝ𝒒ෝ
𝑬
where 𝑧𝛼Τ2 is the confidence coefficient,
𝜎 is the population standard deviation,
𝐸 is the margin of error or the level of precision,
𝑝Ƹ is the estimated proportion of an attribute,
𝑞ො is equal to 1 − 𝑝,Ƹ and
𝑛 is the sample size.
Example 1: Determine the
sample size needed to estimate
the population mean 𝜇 with a
level of precision of 0.05 , a
standard deviation of 0.4, and a
95% confidence level.
Example 1: Determine the sample size needed to estimate
the population mean 𝜇 with a level of precision of 0.05, a
standard deviation of 0.4, and a 95% confidence level.
Solution:
1.Determine the confidence coefficient.
Since the confidence level is at 95%,
the coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 1.96.
Example 1: Determine the sample size needed to estimate
the population mean 𝜇 with a level of precision of 0.05, a
standard deviation of 0.4, and a 95% confidence level.
Solution:
2. Determine the required sample size.
The values of the variables needed to determine
the sample size are listed below.
The confidence coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 1.96.
The standard deviation is 𝜎 = 0.4.
The level of precision is 𝐸 = 0.05.
Solution:
Plug in the values in the formula for finding the required
sample size needed to estimate the population mean 𝜇.
𝑧𝛼Τ2 ∙ 𝜎 2
𝑛=
𝐸 2
1.96 ∙ 0.4
𝑛=
0.05
2
0.784
𝑛=
0.05
𝑛 ≈ 245.86
𝒏 ≈ 𝟐𝟒𝟔
Solution:
Rounding it up to the nearest whole number
gives us the required sample size.
Therefore, the sample size needed to
estimate the population mean 𝜇 is 𝟐𝟒𝟔.
Example 2: Determine the
sample size needed to estimate
the population proportion within
3% of the true proportion at a
99% level of confidence with 𝑝Ƹ =
0.58.
Example 2: Determine the sample size needed to estimate
the population proportion within 3% of the true proportion
at a 99% level of confidence with 𝑝Ƹ = 0.58.
Solution:
1.Determine the confidence coefficient.
Since the confidence level is 99%, the
coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 2.576.
Example 2: Determine the sample size needed to estimate the
population proportion within 3% of the true proportion at a
99% level of confidence with 𝑝Ƹ = 0.58.
Solution:
2. Determine the given proportions.
The sample proportion 𝑝ො for this problem is measured
as 𝑝ො = 0.58. Then, solve for 𝑞ො using the formula 𝑞ො = 1 − 𝑝.
ො
𝑞ො = 1 − 𝑝ො
𝑞ො = 1 − 0.58
𝑞ො = 0.42
Example 2: Determine the sample size needed to estimate
the population proportion within 3% of the true proportion
at a 99% level of confidence with 𝑝Ƹ = 0.58.
Solution:
3. Determine the required sample size.
Based on the problem, the following values of variables
are listed below.
The confidence coefficient is 𝑧𝛼Τ2 = 2.576.
The sample proportions are 𝑝Ƹ = 0.58 and 𝑞ො = 0.42.
The level of precision is 𝐸 = 0.03.
Solution:
Plug in the values in the formula for finding the needed
sample size to estimate the population proportion.
𝑧𝛼Τ2 2
𝑛 = 𝑝Ƹ 𝑞ො
𝐸 2
2.576
𝑛 = 0.58 0.42
0.03
𝑛 = 0.2436 85.8666666667 2
𝑛 ≈ 1 796.08
𝒏 ≈ 𝟏 𝟕𝟗𝟕
Solution:
Rounding it up to the nearest whole number
gives us the required sample size.
Therefore, the sample size needed to estimate the
population proportion within 3% of the true
proportion is
𝟏 𝟖𝟎𝟐.
Individual Practice:
1. With a 99% confidence level, determine the sample size
needed to estimate the population mean 𝜇 with a level of
precision 0.07 and a standard deviation of 0.3.
2. Determine the sample size needed to estimate the
population proportion within 10% of the true proportion
at a 95% level of confidence with 𝑝Ƹ = 0.66.
