Question

Could someone help out with this question. The answer is 1842, but i'd like to know how to solve it. Thanks

BCC wants to estimate the proportion of its students who are single parents. How many students should BCC survey if it wants to be 99% confident that the sample proportion has a margin of error of 0.03?

Answer 1

There is a formula which is n=(za/2)squared •^p•^q/E squared. when ^p and ^q is unknown, use both 0.5. za/2= 99% which is 2.575 ( Its at the chart A-2 at the bottom right). The margin of error is 0.03 which you also squared it. Looks like this: 2.575^2•0.5•0.5/0.03^2. Put it on the calculator, you'll get 1841.8. REMEMBER ALWAYS ROUND UP DO NOT ESTIMATE THE DECIMAL. For here, is 1842.