THE CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREM When do you use these formulae?

Central Limit Theorem states that the sampling

distribution of the mean approaches a normal
distribution, as the sample size increases. Regardless
of the initial shape of the population distribution, if
samples of size n are randomly selected from a
population, the sampling distribution of the sampling
means will approach a normal distribution as the
sample size n gets larger.
The standard error of the mean measures the degree
of accuracy of the sample mean (𝑥̅ ) as an estimate of
the population mean (). It is also known as the
standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the
sampling mean, denoted by 𝑥̅ .
Introductory Activity
Direction: Read the problems below then write your
answer on a separate paper.
1. Determine the standard error of the mean for each of
the following sample size n given the population
standard deviation of 30. Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.
a. 𝑛 = 5
b. 𝑛 = 12
c. 𝑛 = 28
d. 𝑛 = 35
e. 𝑛 = 40
2. Analyze the answers obtained in item number 1.
What can you say about the relationship of the sample
size and the standard error?
3. How does this relationship affect the distribution?
4. When do we obtain a good estimate of the mean?
5. When do we say that the mean is a poor estimate?
Illustrative Example:
1. Assume that the variable is normally distributed, the
average time it takes a group of senior high school
students to complete a certain examination is 46.2
minutes while the standard deviation is 8 minutes.
What is the probability that a randomly selected senior
high school students will complete the examination in
less than 43 minutes? Does it seem reasonable that a
senior high school student would finish the
examination in less than 43 minutes?
a. If 50 randomly selected senior high school students
take the examination, what is the probability that the
mean time it takes the group to complete the test will
be less than 43 minutes? Does it seem reasonable that
the mean of the 50 senior high school students could
be less than 43 minutes?
Solution (1):
S1: Identify the parts of the problem.
Given:  = 46.2 𝑚𝑖ns.; 𝜎 = 8 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠.; 𝑋̅ = 43 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠.
Find: 𝑃(𝑋̅ < 43)
S2: Find the z-score. (We’ll use the original z-score
formula in finding the probability for the population.)
𝑃(𝑋̅ < 43) = 𝑃(z < -.40)
S3: Draw the normal curve and plot the z-score and its
corresponding area. Then, shade the part that you’re
looking for.

Central Limit Theorem is important because it teaches

researchers to use a limited sample to make intelligent S4: Use the z-table to look up the score you
and accurate conclusions about a greater population. It calculated.
also justifies the use of normal curve methods for a
𝑃(z < -.40)= z = -0.40 = 0.3446
wide range of problems.
=34.46%
Furthermore, it justifies the use of the formula
 The probability that a randomly selected senior high
when computing for the probability that 𝑋̅ will take a
school student will complete the examination in less
value within a given range in the sampling distribution
than 43 minutes is 34.46%. Yes, it is reasonable to
of 𝑋̅.
finish the exam in less than 43 minutes since the
where: 𝑿̅ = is the sample mean probability is more than 1.
µ = population mean,
σ = population standard deviation
n = sample size
Solution (1a):
S1: Identify the parts of the problem.
Given:  = 46.2 𝑚𝑖ns.; 𝜎 = 8 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠.; 𝑋̅ = 43 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠.
n= 50 students
Find: 𝑃(𝑋̅ < 43)
S2: Find the z-score. (We’ll use the z-score formula in
finding the probability when given a sample.)

S3: Draw the normal curve and plot the z-score and its
corresponding area. Then, shade the part that you’re
looking for.

S4: Use the z-table to look up the score you

calculated.

𝑃(z < -2.83)= z = -2.83 = 0.0023

=0.23%

 The probability that a randomly selected 50 senior

high school students will complete the examination in
less than 43 minutes is 0.23%. No, it’s not reasonable
since the probability is less than 1.

Application:
1. In a study of the life expectancy of 400 people in a
certain geographic region, the mean age at death was
70 years, and the standard deviation was 5.1 years. If a
sample of 50 people from this region is selected, what
is the probability that the mean life expectancy will be
less than 68 years?

2. The average public elementary school has 468

students with a standard deviation of 87. If a random
sample of 38 public elementary schools is selected,
what is the probability that the number of students
enrolled is between 445 and 485?