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Statistics & DataSuperchallengeSampling and Experiments

Sampling and Experiments · Superchallenge problem

A population is split into two strata that make up 40%40\% and 60%60\% of it, with standard deviations 30 and 10. A stratified sample takes n1n_1 from stratum 1 and n2n_2 from stratum 2 with n1+n2=90n_1 + n_2 = 90, and the variance of the stratified estimate of the mean is (ignoring finite-population corrections)

V=(0.4)2(30)2n1+(0.6)2(10)2n2.V = \frac{(0.4)^2(30)^2}{n_1} + \frac{(0.6)^2(10)^2}{n_2}.

Over all positive integers n1,n2n_1, n_2 with n1+n2=90n_1 + n_2 = 90, what is the smallest possible value of VV?