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How to Find the T-Score

A T-score is used in statistics to determine if a result obtained from a small number of tests (a sample) is an accurate representation of all the results (the population). It tells how far away the sample result is from the average, in terms of standard deviations. T-scores can also be used in medicine to compare a single test result, such as bone density, with a database of results.

Instructions

- 1
  Find the average of the samples and the average for a the population. Also record the number of samples tested.
- 2
  Find the standard deviation of the sample.
- 3
  Calculate the T-score by using the formula:
  
  T = (average of the sample) - (average of the population)
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  (standard deviation of the sample) / (square root of sample size)
- 4
  Example: Terry and his 24 classmates take a test with 100 questions on it. Each question is worth 1 point. Terry scores 88. The average score on the test was 62. Using the equation above, the T-score can be found where the the standard deviation is 1.
  
  T = (88-62) / (1/5)
  
  T = 26 / .2
  
  T = 130
  
  Terry's T-score on the test is 130.

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