Worked solution
Find a sample size for a central normal interval
For an independent random sample from :
(i) State the distribution of .
(ii) Find the sample size required to ensure that the probability that is within 0.1 of is greater than 0.95.
CJC · Lecture · Example 6
(i) Standardise the sample mean
exactly and . Thus the event is .
(ii) Method 1: inverse normal
A central area 0.95 leaves 0.025 in each tail. The source’s DISTR → invNorm, area .95, μ 0, σ 1, CENTER gives . To make the probability strictly larger, , hence . The least integer is 385. The source rounds the intermediate bound to 384.14; it leads to the same integer.
(ii) Method 2: calculator table
Enter and inspect integer . The printed table is:
| n | Central probability as printed |
|---|---|
| 384 | 0.95 |
| 385 | 0.9503 |
| 386 | 0.9505 |
At 384 the unrounded value is 0.9499564788, below .95 despite its display rounding. At 385 it is 0.9502540093. Monotonic widening of the central interval proves 385 is minimal.
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Common mistakes
The source sketch shows the equality boundary: central area .95 and tails .025. The requested strict inequality requires an interval wider than that boundary, not acceptance of the rounded .95 at n384.