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Stats related questions
8 months ago | anujagrawal

The central limit theorem (CLT)

The central limit theorem (CLT) states that, given a sufficiently large sample size from a population with any distribution, the arithmetic mean of the sample will be approximately normally distributed, regardless of the distribution of the population.

The CLT is a powerful tool that can be used to make inferences about populations from samples. It is used in a variety of applications, such as:

  • Statistical inference: The CLT can be used to estimate population parameters, such as the mean and standard deviation.
  • Hypothesis testing: The CLT can be used to test hypotheses about population parameters.
  • Power analysis: The CLT can be used to determine the sample size needed to achieve a desired level of power in a hypothesis test.
  • Monte Carlo simulations: The CLT can be used to generate random samples from a population.

The CLT is based on the following assumptions:

  • The samples are independent.
  • The samples are drawn from a population with finite mean and variance.
  • The sample size is large enough.

The CLT is a powerful tool, but it is important to remember that it is only an approximation. The accuracy of the approximation depends on the sample size and the distribution of the population.

Here are some examples of how the central limit theorem is used in practice:

  • An insurance company might use the CLT to estimate the average claim amount for a group of policyholders.
  • A pharmaceutical company might use the CLT to test the effectiveness of a new drug.
  • A pollster might use the CLT to estimate the percentage of voters who support a particular candidate.

The central limit theorem is a fundamental concept in statistics that is used in a wide variety of applications. It is a powerful tool that can be used to make inferences about populations from samples