Select the method or formula of your choice.
These calculations rely on a t-distribution with a noncentrality parameter λ.
Power = t(–tα; v, λ)
Power = 1 – t(tα; v, λ)
Power = 1 – t(tα/2; v, λ) + t(–tα/2; v, λ)
Term | Description |
---|---|
μ | true value of the population mean |
μ0 | hypothesized value of the population mean |
λ | noncentrality parameter for t |
δ | difference |
σ | standard deviation |
n | sample size |
t(x; v, λ) | CDF of the t distribution with v degrees of freedom and noncentrality parameter λ evaluated at x |
tα | one-sided critical value (upper α point of the t distribution with v degrees of freedom) |
tα/2 | two-sided critical value (upper α/ 2 point of the t distribution with v degrees of freedom) |
v | degrees of freedom for error = n – 1 |
If you provide values for power and sample size, Minitab calculates the value of the difference. If you provide values for power and difference, Minitab calculates the value of the sample size.
For these two cases, Minitab uses an iterative algorithm with the power equation. At each iteration, Minitab evaluates the power for a trial sample size or trial difference value, and stops when it reaches the values you request.
When Minitab calculates sample size, it may find that no integer value of sample size yields your target power. In such cases, Minitab displays the target value for power alongside the actual power, which is a value corresponding to an integer sample size, and which is nearest to, yet greater than, the target value.