SAMPLE SIZE

DETERMINATION
Unit 4A-3

PowerPoint slides from Lombard C, van der Merwe L, Kele T & Mouton A also used
 INTRODUCTION

Up to this point we have worked with the data where

the sample size n has been provided.

In this unit we are going to determine the sample size.

 LEARNING OUTCOME

Apply prior knowledge to determine the sample sizes

for estimating means and proportions
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION

To determine the sample size the following are

required:

I. The confidence level: 1 – α

II. The acceptable sampling error: e

III. The standard deviation, σ (if σ is known) or s (if σ

is unknown)
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION

• Sample size for determining the means:

 Z 
2

1−

n= 2 
e 
 
 

• Sample size for determining the proportions:

2
Z  
 1− 2 
n=   (1 −  )
 e 
 
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
Example 1:

Surfer Central wants to estimate, with 95% confidence,

the average of their customers correct to within ±2 years.
From a previous survey conducted in store, management
estimated the standard deviation of the age of its
customers to be 15 years. What sample size is required to
estimate the average age of the customers?
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
Example 1:

 Z 
2

 Z 0.975  15 
2
 1− 2 
n=  =  
 e  2 
 
 1.96  15 
2

= 
 2 
= 216.09
 217
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
Example 2:
Self review Exercise 13 on page 249.

Carlin Bakery sells biscuits in boxes of 400g. However,

not all boxes contain exactly 400g. The quality control
department wants to know what percentage of biscuit
boxes do not contain 400g. A preliminary survey showed
that 25% of the boxes do not contain 400g of biscuits.
How large a sample would be required to estimate the
percentage of boxes that do not contain 400g by
constructing 90% CI for the population proportion so that
the error is within ±0.025?
 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
Example 2:
2
Z  
 1− 2 
n=   (1 −  )
 e 
 
2
 Z 0.95 
=  0.25 (1 − 0.25 )
 0.025 
2
 1.645 
=  0.25 ( 0.75 )
 0.025 
= 811.8
 812
 REFLECTION ON LEARNING
OUTCOME

Apply prior knowledge to determine the sample sizes

for estimating means and proportions
THANK YOU