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Time/CNN voter polls monitored public opinion for the presidential candidates during the 2000 presidential election campaign. One Time/CNN poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners, Inc., used a sample of 589 likely voters (Time, June 26,2000 ). Assume the population proportion for a presidential candidate is \(p=.50 .\) Let \(\bar{p}\) be the sample proportion of likely voters favoring the presidential candidate. a. Show the sampling distribution of \(\bar{p}\) b. What is the probability the Time/CNN poll will provide a sample proportion within ±.04 of the population proportion? c. What is the probability the Time/CNN poll will provide a sample proportion within ±.03 of the population proportion? d. What is the probability the Time/CNN poll will provide a sample proportion within ±.02 of the population proportion?

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. Approx. normal distribution with mean 0.50 and standard error 0.0206. Probability within ±0.04: 0.9460; within ±0.03: 0.8558; within ±0.02: 0.6680.

Step by step solution

01

Define the Sampling Distribution of Sample Proportion

The sampling distribution of the sample proportion \( \bar{p} \) is approximately normal as long as the sample size \( n \) is large enough. The mean of this distribution is equal to the population proportion \( p \). The standard deviation (standard error) of the sample proportion is calculated as follows:\[\sigma_{\bar{p}} = \sqrt{\frac{p(1-p)}{n}}.\]In this case, \( p = 0.50 \) and \( n = 589 \).
02

Calculate the Standard Error

Substitute the given values into the standard error formula:\[\sigma_{\bar{p}} = \sqrt{\frac{0.50(1-0.50)}{589}} = \sqrt{\frac{0.25}{589}} \approx 0.0206.\]
03

Probability of Sample Proportion within ±0.04

To find the probability the sample proportion \( \bar{p} \) is within ±0.04 of the population proportion \( p \), we calculate:\[p(0.50 - 0.04 < \bar{p} < 0.50 + 0.04) = P(0.46 < \bar{p} < 0.54)\]Convert this range to a standard normal distribution (Z-score):\[P\left( \frac{0.46 - 0.50}{0.0206} < Z < \frac{0.54 - 0.50}{0.0206} \right)\]\[P(-1.942 < Z < 1.942).\]
04

Use Z-tables for Probability Calculation (±0.04)

Using the standard normal distribution table, find the probability corresponding to \( Z = 1.942 \):\[ P(Z < 1.942) \approx 0.9730 \]\[ P(Z < -1.942) \approx 0.0270 \]Thus, the probability is\[ 0.9730 - 0.0270 = 0.9460. \]
05

Repeat Process for ±0.03

Calculate the range for ±0.03:\[P(0.50 - 0.03 < \bar{p} < 0.50 + 0.03) = P(0.47 < \bar{p} < 0.53)\]Convert to Z-scores:\[P\left( \frac{0.47 - 0.50}{0.0206} < Z < \frac{0.53 - 0.50}{0.0206} \right)\]\[P(-1.456 < Z < 1.456).\]
06

Use Z-tables for Probability Calculation (±0.03)

Using Z-tables:\[ P(Z < 1.456) \approx 0.9279 \]\[ P(Z < -1.456) \approx 0.0721 \]Thus, the probability is\[ 0.9279 - 0.0721 = 0.8558. \]
07

Repeat Process for ±0.02

Calculate the range for ±0.02:\[P(0.50 - 0.02 < \bar{p} < 0.50 + 0.02) = P(0.48 < \bar{p} < 0.52)\]Convert to Z-scores:\[P\left( \frac{0.48 - 0.50}{0.0206} < Z < \frac{0.52 - 0.50}{0.0206} \right)\]\[P(-0.971 < Z < 0.971).\]
08

Use Z-tables for Probability Calculation (±0.02)

Using Z-tables:\[ P(Z < 0.971) \approx 0.8340 \]\[ P(Z < -0.971) \approx 0.1660 \]Thus, the probability is\[ 0.8340 - 0.1660 = 0.6680. \]

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Sample Proportion
The sample proportion \( \bar{p} \) reflects the success proportion in a given sample. It helps us to make inferences about the population. To determine \( \bar{p} \), you count how many times an attribute appears in the sample and divide by the total sample size. In voting polls, this might mean counting how many people support a candidate and dividing by the total number of surveyed voters.
For instance, if out of a sample of 589 voters, 294 support a candidate, the sample proportion would be \( \bar{p} = \frac{294}{589} \approx 0.50 \).
This is crucial because it allows statisticians to predict how similar or different the sample is compared to the whole population's behavior or characteristic proportion.
Standard Error
The standard error gives an idea about how much our sample proportion \( \bar{p} \) might fluctuate if we took several samples. It is a measure of the dispersion or variability around the estimated sample proportion.
The standard error is calculated using the formula: \[\sigma_{\bar{p}} = \sqrt{\frac{p(1-p)}{n}}\] where \( p \) is the known population proportion, and \( n \) is the sample size. In our scenario, with \( p = 0.50 \) and \( n = 589 \), the standard error becomes approximately 0.0206.
This tells us that if we repeatedly took random samples, the proportion of support would vary around the true population proportion by about ±0.0206.
Z-score
The Z-score helps us understand where our sample proportion falls within the normal distribution. It standardizes the sample proportion by showing how many standard errors away it is from the population proportion.
To calculate the Z-score for a sample proportion, use the following formula: \[ Z = \frac{\bar{p} - p}{\sigma_{\bar{p}}} \] This formula helps in determining the probability of finding a sample proportion within a specified range. For example, if we want to know the likelihood of \( \bar{p} \) being within ±0.04 of \( p = 0.50 \), we check how far 0.46 and 0.54 are from 0.50 using the calculated standard error of 0.0206.
Understanding the Z-score helps in comparing diverse sample results effectively since it translates results into a common scale that can be referenced against standard normal distribution probabilities.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline was reported to be \(\$ 2.34\) in northern Kentucky (The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 21,2006 ). Use this price as the population mean, and assume the population standard deviation is \(\$ .20\) a. What is the probability that the mean price for a sample of 30 service stations is within \(\$ .03\) of the population mean? b. What is the probability that the mean price for a sample of 50 service stations is within \(\$ .03\) of the population mean? c. What is the probability that the mean price for a sample of 100 service stations is within \(\$ .03\) of the population mean? d. Which, if any, of the sample sizes in parts (a), (b), and (c) would you recommend to have at least a .95 probability that the sample mean is within \(\$ .03\) of the population mean?

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