# Math Help - sample size?

1. ## sample size?

In sampling without replacement from a population of 900, it’s found that the standard error of the mean, σx, is only two-thirds as large as it would have been if the population were infinite in size. That is the approximate sample size?

2. Originally Posted by het_490@yahoo.com
In sampling without replacement from a population of 900, it’s found that the standard error of the mean, σx, is only two-thirds as large as it would have been if the population were infinite in size. That is the approximate sample size?
For a small population: $\sigma_{\bar{X}} = \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}} \sqrt{\frac{N - n}{N -1}}$
where $\sigma$ is the population standard deviation, N is the population size and n is the sample size.

$\sqrt{\frac{N - n}{N -1}}$ is the finite population correction factor.

For a large population: $\sigma_{\bar{X}} = \frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n}}$

The given value of the finite population correction factor is $\frac{2}{3}$ and you're also given N = 900:

$\sqrt{\frac{900 - n}{900 -1}} = \frac{2}{3} \, \Rightarrow \, n \approx 500$.