Practice
9.1 Null and Alternative Hypotheses
You are testing that the mean speed of your cable internet connection is more than three megabits per second. What is the random variable? Describe in words.
You are testing that the mean speed of your cable internet connection is more than three megabits per second. State the null and alternative hypotheses.
The American family has an average of two children. What is the random variable? Describe in words.
The mean entry level salary of an employee at a company is $58,000. You believe it is higher for IT professionals in the company. State the null and alternative hypotheses.
A sociologist claims the probability that a person picked at random in Times Square in New York City is visiting the area is 0.83. You want to test to see if the proportion is actually less. What is the random variable? Describe in words.
A sociologist claims the probability that a person picked at random in Times Square in New York City is visiting the area is 0.83. You want to test to see if the claim is correct. State the null and alternative hypotheses.
In a population of fish, approximately 42 percent are female. A test is conducted to see if, in fact, the proportion is less. State the null and alternative hypotheses.
Suppose that a recent article stated that the mean time students spend doing homework each week is 2.5 hours. A study was then done to see if the mean time has increased in the new century. A random sample of 26 students. The mean length of time the students spent on homework was 3 hours with a standard deviation of 1.8 hours. Suppose that it is somehow known that the population standard deviation is 1.5. If you were conducting a hypothesis test to determine if the mean length of homework has increased, what would the null and alternative hypotheses be? The distribution of the population is normal.
- H0: ________
- Ha: ________
A random survey of 75 long-term marathon runners revealed that the mean length of time they've been running is 17.4 years with a standard deviation of 6.3 years. If you were conducting a hypothesis test to determine if the population mean time for these runners could likely be 15 years, what would the null and alternative hypotheses be?
- H0: __________
- Ha: __________
Researchers published an article stating that in any one-year period, approximately 9.5 percent of American adults suffer from a particular type of disease. Suppose that in a survey of 100 people in a certain town, seven of them suffered from this disease. If you were conducting a hypothesis test to determine if the true proportion of people in that town suffering from this disease is lower than the percent in the general adult American population, what would the null and alternative hypotheses be?
- H0: ________
- Ha: ________
9.2 Outcomes and the Type I and Type II Errors
The mean price of mid-sized cars in a region is $32,000. A test is conducted to see if the claim is true. State the Type I and Type II errors in complete sentences.
A sleeping bag is tested to withstand temperatures of –15 °F. You think the bag cannot stand temperatures that low. State the Type I and Type II errors in complete sentences.
A group of doctors is deciding whether or not to perform an operation. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is that the surgical procedure will go well. State the Type I and Type II errors in complete sentences.
A group of doctors is deciding whether or not to perform an operation. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is that the surgical procedure will go well. Which is the error with the greater consequence?
The power of a test is 0.981. What is the probability of a Type II error?
A group of divers is exploring an old sunken ship. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is that the sunken ship does not contain buried treasure. State the Type I and Type II errors in complete sentences.
A microbiologist is testing a water sample for E. coli. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is that the sample does not contain E. coli. The probability that the sample does not contain E. coli, but the microbiologist thinks it does is 0.012. The probability that the sample does contain E. coli, but the microbiologist thinks it does not is 0.002. What is the power of this test?
A microbiologist is testing a water sample for E. coli. Suppose the null hypothesis, H0, is that the sample contains E-coli. Which is the error with the greater consequence?
9.3 Distribution Needed for Hypothesis Testing
Which two distributions can you use for hypothesis testing for this chapter?
Which distribution do you use when the standard deviation is not known? Assume sample size is large.
Which distribution do you use when the standard deviation is not known and you are testing one population mean? Assume sample size is large.
A population mean is 13. The sample mean is 12.8, and the sample standard deviation is two. The sample size is 20. What distribution should you use to perform a hypothesis test? Assume the underlying population is normal.
A population has a mean of 25 and a standard deviation of five. The sample mean is 24, and the sample size is 108. What distribution should you use to perform a hypothesis test?
It is thought that 42 percent of respondents in a taste test would prefer Brand A. In a particular test of 100 people, 39 percent preferred Brand A. What distribution should you use to perform a hypothesis test?
You are performing a hypothesis test of a single population mean using a Student’s t-distribution. What must you assume about the distribution of the data?
You are performing a hypothesis test of a single population mean using a Student’s t-distribution. The data are not from a simple random sample. Can you accurately perform the hypothesis test?
You are performing a hypothesis test of a single population proportion. What must be true about the quantities of np and nq?
You are performing a hypothesis test of a single population proportion. You find out that np is less than five. What must you do to be able to perform a valid hypothesis test?
You are performing a hypothesis test of a single population proportion. The data come from which distribution?
9.4 Rare Events, the Sample, and the Decision and Conclusion
When do you reject the null hypothesis?
The probability of winning the grand prize at a particular carnival game is 0.005. Is the outcome of winning very likely or very unlikely?
The probability of winning the grand prize at a particular carnival game is 0.005. Michele wins the grand prize. Is this considered a rare or common event? Why?
It is believed that the mean height of high school students who play basketball on the school team is 73 inches with a standard deviation of 1.8 inches. A random sample of 40 players is chosen. The sample mean was 71 inches, and the sample standard deviation was 1.5 inches. Do the data support the claim that the mean height is less than 73 inches? The p-value is almost zero. State the null and alternative hypotheses and interpret the p-value.
The mean age of graduate students at a university is at most 31 years with a standard deviation of two years. A random sample of 15 graduate students is taken. The sample mean is 32 years and the sample standard deviation is three years. Are the data significant at the 1 percent level? The p-value is 0.0264. State the null and alternative hypotheses and interpret the p-value.
Does the shaded region represent a low or a high p-value compared to a level of significance of 1 percent?
What should you do when α > p-value?
What should you do if α = p-value?
If you do not reject the null hypothesis, then it must be true. Is that statement correct? State why or why not in complete sentences.
Is this a test of means or proportions?
What symbol represents the random variable for this test?
In words, define the random variable for this test.
Is σ known and, if so, what is it?
Calculate the following:
- _______
- σ _______
- sx _______
- n _______
Since both σ and are given, which should be used? In one to two complete sentences, explain why.
State the distribution to use for the hypothesis test.
A random survey of 75 long-term marathon runners revealed that the mean length of time they have been running is 17.4 years with a standard deviation of 6.3 years. Conduct a hypothesis test to determine if the population mean time is likely to be 15 years.
- Is this a test of one mean or proportion?
- State the null and alternative hypotheses.
H0: ____________________ Ha : ____________________
- Is this a right-tailed, left-tailed, or two-tailed test?
- What symbol represents the random variable for this test?
- In words, define the random variable for this test.
- Is the population standard deviation known and, if so, what is it?
- Calculate the following:
- = _____________
- s = ____________
- n = ____________
- Which test should be used?
- State the distribution to use for the hypothesis test.
- Find the p-value.
- At a pre-conceived α = 0.05, give your answer for each of the following:
- Decision: _________________
- Reason for the decision: _________________
- Conclusion (write out in a complete sentence):
9.5 Additional Information and Full Hypothesis Test Examples
Assume H0: μ = 9 and Ha: μ 9. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?
Assume H0: μ ≤ 6 and Ha: μ > 6. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?
Assume H0: p = 0.25 and Ha: p ≠ 0.25. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?
Draw the general graph of a left-tailed test.
Draw the graph of a two-tailed test.
A bottle of water is labeled as containing 16 fluid ounces of water. You believe it is less than that. What type of test would you use?
Your friend claims that his mean golf score is 63. You want to show that it is higher than that. What type of test would you use?
A bathroom scale claims to be able to identify correctly any weight within a pound. You think that it cannot be that accurate. What type of test would you use?
You flip a coin and record whether it shows heads or tails. You know the probability of getting heads is 50 percent, but you think it is less for this particular coin. What type of test would you use?
If the alternative hypothesis has a not equals ( ≠ ) symbol, you know to use which type of test?
Assume the null hypothesis states that the mean is at least 18. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?
Assume the null hypothesis states that the mean is at most 12. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?
Assume the null hypothesis states that the mean is equal to 88. The alternative hypothesis states that the mean is not equal to 88. Is this a left-tailed, right-tailed, or two-tailed test?