Population

Proportion
OBJECTIVES
Compute for the point estimate of the
population proportion.
Compute for the confidence interval estimate of
the population proportion.
 p
SAMPLE PROPORTION
Is the point estimate of the population proportion p.
Can be calculated as long as the number of elements
x in the sample having the same characteristics and
the size of the sample are known.

statistic

where
p = sample proportion
x = number of elements in the sample
having the same characteristics
n = sample size
 EXAMPLE
In a random sample of 120 teachers, 48 of them
have master’s degrees. Find the value of p.

Given: Sol’n:
x = 48 p=x/n
n = 120 = 48/120
= 0.40
 EXAMPLE
Out of the 150 randomly selected people in the mall,
45 of them where students. Compute the sample
proportion.
Given: Sol’n:
x = 45 p=x/n
n = 150 = 45/150
=0.30
 Formula for a confidence interval for a population
proportion

or

Sample proportion or
sample size

To find the margin

z-value of error,
at confidence level
 EXAMPLE 1

Calculate the confidence interval to

estimate the population proportion, given
the following data:
a. n = 400, p = 0.70, Confidence level: 95%
b. n = 80, x = 28, Confidence level: 90%
 EXAMPLE 2

In a recent survey of 850 students, it was

found out that 476 of them have laptops.
a. Find the sample proportion p.
b. Find a 95% confidence interval for the
actual proportion of students who have
laptops.
c. Interpret the resulting confidence
interval.
Given:
n = 850 CL = 95%
x = 476
 Given: Find:
n = 850 CL = 95% a. p
Solution: x = 476 b. Confidence interval
c. interpretation
Step 1. Find the sample proportion p Step 5. Find the confidence interval.

Step 2. Find the .

= 0.05
Interpretation:
Step3. Find the critical value z.
The interval suggests a 0.95 probability
= 1.96
that the population proportion of
students who have laptops is
somewhat between 0.53 and 0.59.
Step 4. Find the margin of error. It can also be interpreted that 53% to
59% of the students have laptops at
95% confidence level.The point of
estimate of 0.56 has an error of ±
0.03.
 EXAMPLE 3

A sample of 150 students were chosen

at random from all Grade 11 students in
KCNHS.The sample indicated that 75% of
them were in favor of having an educational
trip. Find a 99% confidence interval for the
proportion of all students who are in favor
of having an educational trip.