Sampling Distribution of

the Sample Means

A population consists of the five numbers 2, 3, 6, 10
and 12. Consider samples of size 2 that can be drawn
from this population.
A. How many possible samples can be drawn?
B. Construct the sampling distribution of sample
means.
C. Make a probability distribution of the sample
means. This probability distribution is called the
sampling distribution of the sample means.
A. How many possible samples can be drawn?
To answer this, use the formula (the number of N
objects taken n at a time), where N is the total
population and n is the sample to be taken out of the
population,
In this case N= 5 and n= 2
= 10
So, there are 10 possible samples to be drawn.
B. Construct the sampling distribution of sample
means. (2, 3, 6, 10 and 12)
List all the possible outcome and get the mean of every
sample. Sample Sample Mean
Observe that the means
2, 3 2.5
2, 6 4
vary from sample to
2, 10 6 sample. Thus, any mean
2, 12 7 based on the sample
3, 6 4.5 drawn from a population
3, 10 6.5
3, 12 7.5
is expected to assume
6, 10 8 different values for
6, 12 9 samples.
10, 12 11
C. Make a probability distribution of the sample
means. This probability distribution is called the
sampling distribution of the sample means.
Sample Mean Probability
2.5 1/10 Observe that all sample
4 1/10 means appeared only
4.5 1/10
one; thus, their
6 1/10
6.5 1/10 probability is P(x)= 1/10
7 1/10 or 0.1
7.5 1/10
8 1/10
9 1/10
11 1/10
A sampling distribution of sample mean is a
frequency distribution using the means computed
from all possible random samples of a specific size
taken from a population.
1. Construct a sampling distribution of sample mean
for the set of data below. 86 88 90 95 98
Consider a sample size of 3 that can be drawn
from a population.

2. A population consists of the numbers 2, 4, 8, 10 and

5. Let us list all the possible samples of size 3 from
this population and construct the sampling
distribution of the sample mean.