SAN AGUSTIN INTEGRATED SCHOOL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

San Agustin Libon, Albay STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

Topic 11: The Central Limit Theorem

Statistics is the most commonly used branch of mathematics. We use it almost every day. It is also a must-have
knowledge for a data scientist. Central Limit Theorem is the cornerstone of it.

In statistics, the given data set represents a sample from the entire population. Using this sample, we try to see
the patterns in the data. We then try to generalize the patterns in the sample to the population while making the
predictions. Central limit theorem helps us to make inferences about the sample and population parameters.

The Central Limit Theorem

The Central limit theorem states that the sampling distribution of the mean approximates a normal distribution with
a mean of µ and a standard deviation of if the sample size N of the random samples is large enough. In this case, as more
samples with large sample sizes will be taken from a certain population with replacement, the sampling distribution will
closely resemble to that of a normal distribution. On the question, “How large should the sample size be?”, statisticians
do differ on it as some would suggest 30 and others suggest it as large as 50 or more. This usually happens when the
population does not appear to be normal. In fact, generally, as sample size increases, the sample mean tends to be
normally distributed around the population mean and its standard deviation also decreases.

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(𝝁𝑿
̅ ) as an estimate of

the population mean ( 𝝁). It is also known as the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the sampling mean,
denoted by𝝈𝒙̅ . It is a measure of the variability in the mean from sample to sample is given by the Standard Error of the
Mean, which is simply equal to the standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the sample means 𝝈𝑿 ̅ ̅:

Formula:

where: σ = population standard deviation n = sample size

Remember that if we want to get a good estimate of the population mean, we have to make n sufficiently large.
This fact is stated as a theorem in the Central Limit Theorem. Note that the standard error of the mean decreases as the
sample size increases.

Two things to remember in using the Central Limit Theorem:

1. When the original variable is normally distributed, the distribution of the sample means will be normally
distributed for any sample size n.
2. When the distribution of the original variable might not be normal, a sample size of 30 or more is needed to use
a normal distribution to approximate the distribution of the sample means. The larger the sample, the better the
approximation will be.

Central Limit theorem is important because it teaches researchers to use a limited sample to make intelligent and
accurate conclusions about a greater population. It also justifies the use of normal curve methods for a wide range of
problems.
̅−𝝁
𝒙
Furthermore, it justifies the use of the formula 𝒛 = 𝝈 when computing for the probability that 𝑥̅ will take a
√𝒏
value within a given range in the sampling distribution of 𝑥̅ ; where:
̅ = is the sample mean
𝒙 µ = population mean,
σ = population standard deviation n = sample size
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 When do you use these formulae?
̅−𝝁
𝒙
 𝒛= 𝝈
̅−𝝁
𝒙
 𝒛= 𝝈
√𝒏

Study the illustrative sample problems below.

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 for #1:

STEPS SOLUTION
Step1: Identify the parts of the problem. Given: 𝜇 = 46.2 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠; 𝜎 = 8 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠; 𝑥̅ = 43 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠
Find: 𝑃(𝑥̅ < 43)
Step 2: Use the formula to find the z-score. ̅ − 𝝁 𝟒𝟑 − 𝟒𝟔. 𝟐 −𝟑. 𝟐
𝒙
𝒛= = =
𝝈 𝟖 𝟖
𝒛 = −𝟎. 𝟒𝟎
Step 3: Use the z-table to look up the z- 𝑧 = −0.40 has a corresponding area of 0.3446.
score you calculated in step 2.
Step 4: Draw a graph and plot the z-score Since we are looking for less than the shaded region will be on the left
and its corresponding area. Then, shade part of −0.40
the part that you’re looking for: 𝑃(𝑥̅ < 43)

0.3446

–0.40

Step 5: Perform appropriate operations to Since the graph shows to the left, it means that the given z value is the
get the required area/probability, if area.
needed. That is, P(𝑥̅ < 43) = 𝑃(𝑧 < −0.40) = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒𝟒𝟔.
Step 6: Convert the decimal in Step 5 to a P(𝑥̅ < 43) = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟒𝟔%
percentage. Therefore, the probability that a randomly selected senior high
school student will complete the examination in less than 43 minutes is
34.46%. Yes, it is reasonable to finish the exam in less than 43 minutes
since the probability is more than 1.

Solution for #1.a:

STEPS SOLUTION
Step1: Identify the parts of the problem. Given: 𝜇 = 46.2 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠; 𝜎 = 8 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠; 𝑥̅ = 43 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠
𝑛 = 50 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
Find: 𝑃(𝑥̅ < 43)
Step 2: Use the formula to find the z-score. ̅−𝝁
𝒙 𝟒𝟑 − 𝟒𝟔. 𝟐 −𝟑. 𝟐
𝒛= 𝝈 = =
𝟖 𝟏. 𝟑𝟏
√𝒏 √𝟓𝟎
𝒛 = −𝟐. 𝟖𝟑
Step 3: Use the z-table to look up the z- 𝑧 = −2.83 has a corresponding area of 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟑.
score you calculated in step 2.
Step 4: Draw a graph and plot the z-score Since we are looking for less than the shaded region will be on the left
and its corresponding area. Then, shade part of – 2.83
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the part that you’re looking for: 𝑃(𝑥̅ < 43)

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 shaded part

–2.83

Step 5: Perform appropriate operations to Since the graph shows to the left, it means that the given z value is the
get the required area/probability, if area.
needed. That is, P(𝑥̅ < 43) = 𝑃(𝑧 < −2.83) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟑.
Step 6: Convert the decimal in Step 5 to a P(𝑥̅ < 43) = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟑%
percentage. Therefore, 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.

2. An electrical company claims that the average life of the bulbs it manufactures is 1 200 hours with a standard deviation
of 250 hours. If a random sample of 100 bulbs is chosen, what is the probability that the sample mean will be between
1150 hours and 1 250 hours?

Solution:
STEPS SOLUTION
Step1: Identify the parts of the problem. Given: 𝜇 = 1200 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠; 𝜎 = 250 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠; 𝑛 = 100 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏𝑠
𝑥̅ = 1 150 & 1 250 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠
Find: 𝑃(𝑥̅ < 43)
Step 2: Use the formula to find the z-score. ̅−𝝁
𝒙 𝟏𝟏𝟓𝟎 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 −𝟓𝟎
𝒛= 𝝈 = =
𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟕. 𝟗𝟏
√𝒏 √ 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒛 = −𝟐

̅−𝝁
𝒙 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝟎 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝟓𝟎
𝒛= 𝝈 = =
𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝟕. 𝟗𝟏
√𝒏 √𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒛 = 𝟐
Step 3: Use the z-table to look up the z- 𝑧 = −2 has a corresponding area of 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟐𝟖.
score you calculated in step 2. 𝑧 = 2 has a corresponding area of 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕𝟕𝟐.
Step 4: Draw a graph and plot the z-score Since we are looking for the probability between 1 150 hours and 1 250
and its corresponding area. Then, shade hours, the shaded part will be between –2 and 2.
the part that you’re looking for: 𝑃(1150 <
𝑋̅ < 1250)

Step 5: Perform appropriate operations to Since it is in between two z’s, subtract the highest z and smallest z to get
get the required area/probability, if the required area.
needed. 0.9772 − 0.0228 = 0.9544
That is, 𝑃(1150 < X ̅ < 1250) = 𝑃(−2 < 𝑧 < 2) = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓𝟒𝟒.
Step 6: Convert the decimal in Step 5 to a 𝑃(1150 < ̅ X < 1250) = 𝟗𝟓. 𝟒𝟒%
percentage. Therefore, the probability of randomly selected 100 bulbs to have a
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sample mean between 1 150 hours and 1 250 hours is 95.44%

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 Worksheet 9
Activity 1. Standard Error of the Mean
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?

Activity 2. Let’s see how well you understood our discussion. At this point, I want you to solve the following problems.
Show your complete solution by following the step-bystep procedure.

1.The average number of milligrams (mg) of cholesterol in a cup of a certain brand of ice cream is 660 mg, the standard
deviation is 35 mg. Assume the variable is normally distributed.
a. If a cup of ice cream is selected, what is the probability that the cholesterol content will be more than 670 mg?
b. If a sample of 10 cups of ice cream is selected, what is the probability that the mean of the sample will be larger
than 670 mg?
2. 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?
3. The average cholesterol content of a certain canned goods is 215 milligrams, and the standard deviation is 15
milligrams. Assume that the variable is normally distributed. If a sample of 25 canned goods is selected, what is the
probability that the mean of the sample will be greater than 220 milligrams?
4. 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?

Activity 3. This time, I want you to work on the activity below based on your understanding of the topic by completing
each sentence.

I. Supply the missing words/phrase that will make the sentence complete.
1. Central Limit Theorem states that the sampling distribution of the mean approaches a
____________________________ as the sample size increases.
2. A good estimate of the mean is obtained if the standard error of the mean is small or _______________.
3. The mean is a poor estimate if the standard error of the mean is _______________.
4. The mean of the sampling distribution of the sample means is _______________ to the population mean.
5. The _____________________________ measures the degree of accuracy of the sample mean as an estimate
of the population mean.

II. In your own understanding, answer the questions below.

1. Do we always add or subtract from 0.50? Explain.
2. When do we add the corresponding area of the z-score to 0.50?
3. When do we add the two corresponding areas of the z-score?
4. Enumerate the steps in solving problem using Central Limit Theorem?

Activity 4. Directions: Read, analyze, and solve the problems below. Show your complete solutions.
1. There are 250 dogs at a dog show that weigh an average of 12 pounds, with a standard deviation of 8 pounds. If 4
dogs are chosen at random, what is the probability that the average weight is greater than 8 pounds?
2. The average number of pages in a novel is 326 with a standard deviation of 24 pages. If a sample of 50 novels is
randomly chosen, what is the probability that the average number of pages in these books is between 319 and 331?
3. The number of driving miles before a certain kind of tire begins to show wear is on the average, 16,800 miles with
a standard deviation of 3,300 miles.
a. What is the probability that the 36 tires will have an average of less than 16,000 miles until the tires begin to wear
out?
b. What is the probability that the 36 tires will have an average of more than 18,000 miles until the tires begin to
wear out?
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