How is a sample related to a population?
Choose the correct answer below.
A. A sample is the collection of all outcomes, responses, measurements, or counts.
B. A sample is a numerical measure that describes a sample characteristic.
C. A sample is a subset of a population.

A sample is a subset of a population. This means that it represents a portion of the whole group that researchers study to draw conclusions without needing to examine every single member. This approach saves time, money, and resources while still yielding meaningful insights about the broader population.

Understanding the relationship between samples and populations is foundational in statistics. When researchers gather a sample and analyze it, they can estimate properties of the entire population, such as the average or proportions, thus enabling data-driven decisions in various fields, from healthcare to market research. It’s like taking a bite of cake to decide if the whole cake is delicious!