When a sample is selected at random from a population, the sample mean will likely be:
A) larger than the population mean
B) smaller than the population mean
C) different from the population mean
D) equal to the population mean
E) larger than the population mean and different from the population mean

Question

When a sample is selected at random from a population, the sample mean  will likely be:
A) larger than the population mean 
B) smaller than the population mean 
C) different from the population mean 
D) equal to the population mean 
E) larger than the population mean and different from the population mean

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a sample is selected at random from a population, the sample mean is expected to be a good estimate of the population mean. However, due to random sampling variability, the sample mean is likely to be different from the population mean, even though they should be close. Therefore, the correct answer is C, different from the population mean.

When a Sample Is Selected at Random from a Population