The sample size needed to provide a margin of error of 2 or
The sample size needed to provide a margin of error of 2 or less with a .95 probability when the population standard deviation equals 11 is:
Solution
Note that      
       
 n = z(alpha/2)^2 s^2 / E^2      
       
 where      
       
 alpha/2 = (1 - confidence level)/2 =    0.025  
       
 Using a table/technology,      
       
 z(alpha/2) =    1.959963985  
       
 Also,      
       
 s = sample standard deviation =    11  
 E = margin of error =    2  
       
 Thus,      
       
 n =    116.2041293  
       
 Rounding up,      
       
 n =    117   [ANSWER]

