The standard deviation of fasting plasma glucose values in a sample of 100 adults is 18 mg/dL. The standard error of the mean for this sample is:

• A 180 mg/dL
• B 18 mg/dL
• C 1.8 mg/dL ✓
• D 0.18 mg/dL

Explanation

The standard error of the mean equals the standard deviation divided by the square root of the sample size. Here it is 18 divided by the square root of 100, that is 18 divided by 10, giving 1.8 mg/dL. It quantifies the precision of the sample mean as an estimate of the population mean and shrinks as sample size grows. The standard deviation itself describes individual variability around the mean and remains unchanged by further sampling.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.