6 Explain the difference between a sample and a populationSo

6. Explain the difference between a sample and a population.

Solution

The \"population\" is the set of all elements that are of interest in a study. The \"sample\" is the set of elements used to represent the population, from which it was selected.

For example, if you want to study the average high of 10-year old boys in the US (population), instead of measuring all the heights of all 10-year old boys in the US, you can use a sample, say, randomly select thirty 10-year old boys in each state.

Note that the sample is always smaller than the population, and is always a subset [a part of] the population.