54836812
A transit agency wants to estimate the proportion of riders who would use a proposed express route. A pilot survey suggests that the proportion is about \(0.62\). What minimum sample size is needed for a \(95\%\) confidence interval with margin of error at most \(0.03\)?
Hints
- Use the pilot result rather than assuming the two outcomes are equally likely.
- Think about which quantity must be isolated when planning the study.
- A sample-size answer must be rounded in the direction that preserves the desired precision.
Solution
1. Use the pilot estimate \(\hat p=0.62\), the \(95\%\) critical value \(z^*=1.96\), and the target margin of error \(0.03\).
2. Solving the margin-of-error relationship for \(n\) gives \(n=\frac{(1.96)^2(0.62)(0.38)}{(0.03)^2}\approx 1005.65\).
3. Round up to ensure the target margin of error is met, giving \(n=1006\).
Answer
The agency should sample at least \(1006\) riders.
