Find the sample size needed to provide a margin of error of
 Find the sample size needed to provide a margin of error of 2or less with a .99 probability when the population standard deviation is 20.
  Find the sample size needed to provide a margin of error of 2or less with a .99 probability when the population standard deviation is 20.
Solution
Note that      
       
 n = z(alpha/2)^2 s^2 / E^2      
       
 where      
       
 alpha/2 = (1 - confidence level)/2 =    0.005  
       
 Using a table/technology,      
       
 z(alpha/2) =    2.575829304  
       
 Also,      
       
 s = sample standard deviation =    20  
 E = margin of error =    2  
       
 Thus,      
       
 n =    663.4896601  
       
 Rounding up,      
       
 n =    664   [ANSWER]

