Comparing Sample Mean and Population Mean

Thread starter sosme
Start date Oct 17, 2010
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Mean population

In summary, sample mean is the average value of a subset of data while population mean is the average value of the entire set of data. Comparing sample mean to population mean allows us to determine if the sample is representative of the population and make inferences about the data. Both sample mean and population mean are calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values, but the population mean uses all values in the population. The significance of the difference between sample mean and population mean depends on the purpose of the study and the size of the difference. If the sample mean is close to the population mean, the sample is representative, but if there is a significant difference, further analysis may be needed.

Oct 17, 2010

sosme

I thought that they were both the same, they're mean of the sample aren't they?

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Oct 18, 2010

mathman

Science Advisor

When you first encounter such terms get the precise definition. The definitions are not written in stone. Sometimes you need to distinguish between sample mean (average) and theoretical mean.

Related to Comparing Sample Mean and Population Mean

What is the difference between sample mean and population mean?

The sample mean is the average value of a subset of data, while the population mean is the average value of the entire set of data. The sample mean is an estimate of the population mean.

Why is it important to compare sample mean and population mean?

Comparing the sample mean to the population mean allows us to determine if the sample is representative of the entire population. It helps us understand the characteristics of the data and make inferences about the population.

How do you calculate sample mean and population mean?

The sample mean is calculated by adding all the values in the sample and dividing by the number of values in the sample. The population mean is calculated in the same way, but using all the values in the population.

What is the significance of the difference between sample mean and population mean?

The significance of the difference between sample mean and population mean depends on the purpose of the study and the size of the difference. A larger difference may indicate that the sample is not representative of the population, while a smaller difference may be considered acceptable.

How can we interpret the comparison of sample mean and population mean?

If the sample mean is very close to the population mean, we can assume that the sample is representative of the population. If the sample mean is significantly different from the population mean, it may indicate that the sample is not representative and further analysis may be needed.