Solving Problems

Involving Sampling
Distribution of the
Sample Mean
 𝒁-score of the sampling distribution of a sample mean
1 the number of standard deviations a score is above or below the mean

It can be computed using the formula

𝑥ҧ − 𝜇
𝑧= 𝜎
𝑛
Example:
A librarian of a certain university reports that an average
scholar borrows 123 books per school year. If the standard
deviation is 21 books, find the probability that the mean of a
randomly selected sample of 15 scholars will be less than 120
books.
ҧ
𝑥−𝜇
Use the formula 𝑧 = 𝜎 .
𝑛
𝑥ҧ − 𝜇 120 − 123
𝑧= 𝜎 = ≈ −0.55
21
𝑛 15
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
1. Analyze the problem.

The problem asked for the probability that the mean will
be between 220 and 222. Hence, we have to find the

𝑃(220 < 𝑥ҧ < 222)

Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
2. Calculate the standard error.
𝜎
𝜎𝑚 =
𝑛
16.3
𝜎𝑚 = ≈ 2.98
30
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
3. Write down the point of
interest 𝑥ҧ and locate the
corresponding area on the
normal curve.
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
4. Standardize the value of 𝑥ҧ to 𝑧-score.
If 𝑥ҧ = 220, the If 𝑥ҧ = 222, then
𝑥ҧ − 𝜇 220 − 220 𝑥ҧ − 𝜇 222 − 220
𝑧= 𝜎 = =0 𝑧= 𝜎 = ≈ 0.67
16.3 16.3
𝑛 30 𝑛 30
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
5. Use the normal
distribution table to
locate the probability
of 𝑧 = 0.67.
If 𝑧 = 0.67, then 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 222 = 0.7486.
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
5. Use the normal
distribution table to
locate the probability
of 𝑧 = 0.
If 𝑧 = 0, then 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 220 = 0.5000.
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
6. Find 𝑃(220 < 𝑥ҧ < 222).

𝑃 220 < 𝑥ҧ < 222 = 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 222 − 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 220

𝑃 220 < 𝑥ҧ < 222 = 0.7486 − 0.5000
𝑃 220 < 𝑥ҧ < 222 = 0.2486
Example 1: The mean serum cholesterol of a large
population of overweight adults is 220 mg/dl, and the
standard deviation is 16.3 mg/dl. Researchers select 30 adults
as their sample. Find the probability that the mean will be
between 220 and 222 mg/dl.
Solution:
Therefore, the probability that the mean will be between 220
and 222 mg/dl is 𝟎. 𝟐𝟒𝟖𝟔.
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
1. Analyze the problem.

The problem asked for the probability that the mean is

greater than 44.2. Hence, we have to find the 𝑃(𝑥ҧ > 44.2).
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
2. Calculate the standard error.

𝜎
𝜎𝑚 =
𝑛
5
𝜎𝑚 = ≈ 0.91
30
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
3. Write down the point of
interest 𝑥ҧ and locate the
corresponding area on the
normal curve.
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
4. Standardize the value of 𝑥ҧ to 𝑧-score.
𝑥ҧ − 𝜇 44.2 − 43
𝑧= 𝜎 = ≈ 1.31
5
𝑛 30
Example 2:The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
5. Use the normal
distribution table to
locate the probability of
𝑧 = 1.31.

If 𝑧 = 1.31, then 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 44.2 = 0.9049.

Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
Recall that 𝑃(𝑥ҧ > 44.2) is equal to 1 − 𝑃(𝑥ҧ < 44.2). Hence,

𝑃 𝑥ҧ > 44.2 = 1 − 𝑃 𝑥ҧ < 44.2

𝑃 𝑥ҧ > 44.2 = 1 − 0.9049
𝑃 𝑥ҧ > 44.2 = 0.0951
Example 2: The average age of accountants in a firm is 43
years, with a standard deviation of 5 years. If they employ 30
more accountants, find the probability that the average age of
the group is greater than 44.2 years.
Solution:
Thus, the probability that the sample mean has a mean
greater than 44.2 is 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟓𝟏.