SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

11

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

NAME: _________________________________________

GRADE AND SECTION: _________________________

DATE: _________________________________________

TEACHER: ______________________________________
 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Department of Education 11
REGION V
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NAGA CITY
CAMARINES SUR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 9

NAME: GRADE LEVEL/SECTION:
TOPIC: t-Distribution DATE:

INTRODUCTION

This Learning Activity Sheet was designed and written with you in mind. It aims to
help you understand the key concepts of t-distribution (Student’s t-distribution) and its
properties. This will also guide you on how to illustrate the t-distribution and discuss its
uses. The prior knowledge in normal distribution will be very helpful.

LEARNING SKILLS FROM THE MELCs and OBJECTIVES

o Illustrate the t-distribution. (M11/SP-IIIg-2)

o Identifies percentiles using t-table. (M11/SP-IIIg-5)

At the end of this activity sheet, you are expected to:

1. Illustrate t-distribution and its characteristics.
2. Differentiate t-distribution with the z-distribution.
3. Know the corresponding percentiles using the t-table.

ACTIVITIES: LET US REVIEW

Vocabulary List:

t-Distribution is also known as (Student’s distribution), is a probability distribution which

is utilized in estimating parameters of a certain population in case of the sample size is small
and/or population variance or standard deviation is unknown.

t-score (t-value) is equivalent to the number of standard deviations away from the mean of the
t-distribution. It is one of a standardized test statistic used in t-tests.

Degrees of freedom (df) is the number of independent observations in a given set of data or
sample size minus one or in symbols, that is df = n - 1

t-table is a table of probabilities used in t-distribution which is consist of the degrees of freedom
(df), α which is some of the special areas and the t-values.

Percentile is one of the measurements in statistics which tells the value below in which an
observations’ percentage in a set of observations fall

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 1
 ACTIVITIES: LET US STUDY

Do you know that t-distribution Oh Yes! Only that t-distribution

look almost identical to normal is a bit shorter and flatter.
distribution curve?

t- distribution which is also known as Student’s t-

distribution, is a probability distribution which is utilized in
estimating parameters of a certain population in case of
the sample size is small and/or the population variance or
standard deviation is unknown. It is like with the normal
distribution or z-distribution that is bell-shaped and symmetric
about the x-axis but flatter and more spread.

Properties of t-distribution:

➢ The t-distribution is bell-shaped and symmetric about the mean.

➢ The t-distribution is a family of curves, each determined by the degree of
freedom. The degrees of freedom (df) is equal to one less than the sample size.
df = n-1
➢ The total area under a t-curve is equal to 1 (or 100%)
➢ The mean, median and mode of the t-distribution are equal to zero.
➢ As the degrees of freedom increases, the t-distribution approaches the normal
distribution.

Almost the same, right? Just take

note that z-test is only used when
the population standard deviation
or variance is known and/or the
sample size is large enough. But
for sample sizes which are small,
sometimes the population
standard deviation or variance is
unknown, rely on
the t-distribution.

According to the Central Limit Theorem, the sampling distribution of a statistic (like
a sample mean) will follow a normal distribution, as long as the sample size is sufficiently
large. Therefore, when we know the standard deviation of the population, we can compute a
z-score and use the normal distribution to evaluate probabilities with the sample mean.
But sample sizes are sometimes small, and often we do not know the standard
deviation of the population. When either of these problems occurs, statisticians rely on the
distribution of the t-statistic (also known as t-score).

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 2
 The t-score (t-value) can be known using the formula indicated below.

where: x̅ - sample mean

μ - population mean
s - standard deviation of the sample
n - sample size

t-test formula - Google Search

Illustrative Example 1: You Find My Value!
Find the t-value when μ = 20, x̅ = 22, s = 3 and n = 16.
Solution: Follow these steps to find the t-value.

(x̅− μ)
𝑡= 𝑠 1. Use the formula for finding the t-value.
√𝑛
(22 − 20)
= 3 2. Substitute the given values in the formula.
√16
2
= 3 3. Perform the indicated operations then simplify.
4

t = 2.667 4. Round of to the nearest thousandths.

Click here:
Do you want to try it on your own?
Wow! You may also check whether your
answer is correct using this t-test
calculator. Have fun! https://www.educba.com/t-test-formula/

Did you know that there is another way to identify the t-value? You’re right! Similar to z-table
in the standard normal distribution, we can also find and locate the t-value in the t-table.
The t-Distribution Table

t-table is a table of probabilities

used in t-distribution which is consist of
the degrees of freedom (df), α which is
some of the special areas and the t-
values.

Identifying the t-value

In order to get the t-value, a t-distribution table

is shown which is consist of the degrees of freedom
(df) which is the numbers at the leftmost column,
“α” which is some of the special areas at the topmost
row and the t-values which are located at the right
of the degrees of freedom and below “α”.
To denote the t-value, it is conveniently written
as t(α,df).

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 3
 Refer to this t-table to get the corresponding t-value

t-distribution table - Google Search

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 4
Illustrative Example 2: You Find My Value!

Find the t-value corresponding to 𝛼 = 0.05 and n = 9.

Follow the 4 easy steps.

STEPS SOLUTION
1: Subtract one from your sample size. This df = n – 1
will be your degrees of freedom (df). =9–1
df = 8
2: In the t-table, locate the column of alpha 𝛼 = 0.05
level “α” on the topmost row.
3: Find the degrees of freedom (df) on the df = 8
leftmost column.
4: Read the t-value at the intersection of The t-value at the intersection is 1.860.
row, 𝛼 = 0.05 and column df = 8.

So, if you were asked on the t-value denoted by t(0.05,8) means the t-value
corresponding to α = 0.05 and n = 9. The intersection of α = 0.05 and df= 8 is 1.860.
Did you get it right? Great job! But aside from using a t-table in identifying the t-
value, I’m sure that a t-value calculator will surely help you more. You may check your work
here. Keep it up!

https://www.danielsoper.com/statcalc/calculator.aspx?id=10

Identifying Percentiles

Percentile is one of the measurements in statistics which tells the value below in
which an observations’ percentage in a set of observations falls. For example, you score 70 in
an exam and it was mentioned that you the 85th percentile, it means that 85% of the scores
are below you and 15% of the scores are above you.

In addition, in finding the percentile for a t- distribution, t-table can be utilized as it

is a number on a statistical distribution whose less than the probability is the given
percentage. So, if you were asked on the 80th percentile of the t-distribution with respect to
its degrees of freedom, that refers to the value whose left tail is less than probability is 80%
or 0.8 and whose right tail or greater than probability is 20% or 0.2.

Illustrative Example 3: Where Do I Belong?

Determine the percentile given the following:
1. What is the t-value of the 90th percentile with the sample size of 11.
2. Find the t-value of the 95th percentile with df = 13.

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 5
Follow the steps as your guide.
A. STEPS SOLUTION
1: Identify first the degrees of freedom df = n – 1
(df). = 11 – 1
df = 10
2: Indicate and locate the alpha level “𝛼” 𝛼 = 0.10
on the topmost row. Since that less than
probability is 90% or 0.90, the greater
than probability is 10% or 0.10.
3: Use the t-table to find t-value at the The t-value at the intersection is 1.372
intersection, 𝛼 = 0.10 and column df = or t(0.10,10) = 1.372.
10.

B.
STEPS SOLUTION
1: Since the degrees of freedom (df) is 𝛼 = 0.05
already given, indicate and locate the
alpha level “𝛼” on the topmost row. If the
less than probability is 95% or 0.95, the
greater than probability is 5% or 0.05.
2: Use the t-table to find t-value at the The t-value at the intersection is 1.771
intersection, 𝛼 = 0.05 and column df = or t(0.05,13) = 1.771.
13.

Did you get the correct answer? Very good! Now, I know that you are ready to answer
these activities.

ACTIVITIES: LET US PRACTICE

Find the t-value given the following:

1. n = 18, 𝛼 = 0.10 1.333

2. df = 27, 𝛼 = 0.05 1.703

3. μ = 42, x̅ = 44, s = 5 and n = 25 2.0

4. 97.5th percentile, n = 19 2.101
5. 99th percentile, df = 23
2.5

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 6
 ACTIVITIES: LET US REMEMBER

t-Distribution is also known as (Student’s distribution), is a probability distribution

which is utilized in estimating parameters of a certain population in case of the sample size
is small and/or population variance or standard deviation is unknown.
Properties:
➢ The t-distribution is bell-shaped and symmetric about the mean.
➢ The t-distribution is a family of curves, each determined by the degree of
freedom. The degrees of freedom (df) is equal to one less than the sample size.
df = n-1
➢ The total area under a t-curve is equal to 1 (or 100%)
➢ The mean, median and mode of the t-distribution are equal to zero.
➢ As the degrees of freedom increases, the t-distribution approaches the normal
distribution.

t-score (t-value) is equivalent to the number of standard deviations away from the mean
of the t-distribution. It is one of a standardized test statistic used in t-tests.

Degrees of freedom (df) is the number of independent observations in a given set of data
or sample size minus one or in symbols, that is df = n - 1

*To determine the t-value, use the t-table. The t-table is a table of probabilities used in
t-distribution which is consist of the degrees of freedom (df), 𝛼 which is some of the special
areas and the t-values.

Percentile is one of the measurements in statistics which tells the value below in which an
observations’ percentage in a set of observations fall.

ACTIVITIES: LET US PRACTICE MORE

Use the Venn Diagram to compare t-distribution and z-distribution using their properties.
t-Distribution vs. z-Distribution

ACTIVITIES: LEARNING TASKS

LEARNING TASK #1
Please Identify! Answer the following questions. (5 points)
_________1. If the sample size is 25, what is the degree of freedom?
_________2. Both the normal distribution and t distribution have their centers at 0, true
or false?
_________3. Like the normal distribution, the t distribution is asymptotic to which axis,
x or y?

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 7
 _________4. What is the total area under the t curve?
_________5. When do we say that the sample size is sufficiently large?

LEARNING TASK #2
Complete Me! Complete the given data in the table below. (2 points each)
Sample size (n) Degrees of Alpha Level t-value
Freedom (df) (𝛼) t(𝛼,df)
1.
4 0.025
2. 25 2.492

3. 0.005 3.707

LEARNING TASK #3
Know My Value! Find the t-value given the following. (2 points each)
1. μ = 120, x̅ = 113, s = 14 and n = 18
2. μ = 78, x̅ = 81, s = 3 and n = 9
3. t(𝛼,35) of 97.5th percentile
4. 99.5th percentile with n = 15

RUBRIC for SCORING

Learning Task #1 Learning Task #2 & 3

1 point each correct 2 – If the answer is correct and complete
answer. 1 - If the answer is correct but incomplete
0 – No attempt

REFERENCES

Statistics and Probability ADM Modules for Senior High School. Division of Misamis
Oriental. 2019

https://www.danielsoper.com/statcalc/calculator.aspx?id=10

https://www.educba.com/t-test-formula/

https://www.statisticshowto.com/probability-and-statistics/t-distribution/

t-distribution table - Google Search

t-test formula - Google Search

Prepared by: MARY GRACE C. SANIEL May 2021

ESTIMATION OF PARAMETERS 8