Testing Hypothesis Using t-Test of Single Mean

Example:

A medical investigation claims that the average number of infections per week at a hospital in southwestern Pennsylvania is 16.3.
A random sample of 10 weeks had a mean number of 17.7 infection. The sample standard deviation is 1.8. Is there enough
evidence to reject the investigator’s claim at 𝛼 = 0.05

Step 1: State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Then, identify the claim and identify the test.

Ho: 𝜇 = 16.3 Ha: 𝜇 ≠ 16.3 (claim)  two-tailed

Step 2: Find the critical value. (t-table)

Since 𝛼 = 0.05 and df = 9 (since n=10 and since df = n – 1), then 𝑋̅ − 𝜇

critical values are -2.262 and 2.262 𝑡=
𝑠/√𝑛
Step 3: Compute the test value.
Where:
𝑋̅ −𝜇
𝑡 = 𝑠/ 𝑋̅ = sample mean
√𝑛
30.1−29
𝑡= 3.8/√32 𝜇 = population mean
𝑡 = 2.4595 or 2.460
s = sample standard deviation
Step 4: Make the decision.
n = number of samples
Since Z the computed value is within the rejection region, reject Ho

2.460

Step 5: Summarize the results

There is enough evidence to reject the claim that the average number of infections is 16.3 at 𝛼 = 0.05.

Example:

An educator claims that the average salary of substitute teachers in school districts in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania is less
than $60 per day. A random sample of eight school districts is selected, and the daily salaries (in dollars) are shown. Is there
enough evidence to support the educator’s claim at 𝛼 = 0.05? Assume s = 5.08.

60 56 60 55 70 55 60 55

Step 1: State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Then, identify the claim and identify the test.

Ho: 𝜇 ≥ 60 Ha: 𝜇 < 60 (claim)  left-tailed

Step 2: Find the critical value. (use t-table)

Since 𝛼 = 0.10 and df = 7 (since n=8 and since df = n – 1), then

critical value is -1.415
Step 3: Compute first for the sample mean.

∑𝑥
𝑋̅ = 𝑛
60+56+60+55+70+55+60+55
𝑋̅ = 8

𝑋̅ = 58.88
 Compute the test value.

𝑋̅ −𝜇
𝑡 = 𝑠/
√𝑛
58.88−60
𝑡= 5.08/√8
𝑡 = −0.62359 or -0.624
Step 4: Make the decision.

Since Z the computed value is not within the rejection region, do not reject Ho

Step 5: Summarize the results

There is no enough evidence to support the educator’s claim that the average salary of substitute teachers is
less than $60 per day at 𝛼 = 0.10.

Practice Exercises:
1. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, cat owners spend an average of $179 annually in
routine veterinary visits. A random sample of local cat owners revealed that 10 randomly selected owners spent an average
of $205 with s = $26. Is there a significant statistical difference at 𝛼 = 0.01?

2. The average local cell phone call length was reported to be 2.27 minutes. A random sample of 20 phone calls showed an
average of 2.98 minutes in length with a standard deviation of 0.98 minute. At 𝛼 = 0.05, can it be concluded that the
average differs from the population average?

3. A year ago, the average cost of making a movie was more than $54.8 million. This year, a random sample of 15 recent
action movies had an average production cost of $62.3 million with a standard deviation of $9.5 million. At 𝛼 = 0.05, can
it be concluded that it costs more than average to produce an action movie?

4. The Old Farmer’s Almanac stated that the average consumption of water per person was 123 gallons. To test the hypothesis,
a researcher randomly selected 16 people and found that the average is 119 gallons per day at s = 5.3. At 𝛼 = 0.01, is there
enough evidence to support the claim?

5. A researcher estimates that the average height of the buildings in a large city is at least 700 feet. A random sample of 10
buildings is selected. At 𝛼 = 0.025, is there enough evidence to reject the claim? Assume s = 109.08.

485 511 841 725 615 520 535 635 616 582

6. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that a person between the ages of 18 to 34 has had an average of 9.2 jobs.
To see if this average is correct, a researcher selected a sample of 8 workers between the ages of 18 and 34 and asked how
many different places they had worked.

8 12 15 6 1 9 13 2

At At 𝛼 = 0.05, can it be concluded that the mean is 9.2?

Testing Hypothesis Using z-test of Single Mean

Example:

A researcher wishes to see if the mean number of days that a basic, low-price, small automobile sits on a dealer’s lot is greater
than 29. A sample of 35 automobile dealers has a mean of 30.1 days for basic, low-price, small automobiles. At 𝛼 = 0.05, test
the claim that the mean time is greater than 29 days. The standard deviation of the population is 3.8 days.

Step 1: State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Then, identify the claim and identify the test.

Ho: 𝜇 ≤ 29 Ha: 𝜇 > 29 (claim)  right-tailed

Step 2: Find the critical value.

Since 𝛼 = 0.05, then z = 1.64 (based on the table and it is right tailed)
Step 3: Compute the test value.

𝑋̅ −𝜇
𝑧 = 𝜎/
√𝑛
30.1−29
𝑧= 3.8/√35
𝑧 = 1.71
Step 4: Make the decision.

Since the computed value is within the rejection region

Reject Ho

Step 5: Summarize the results

There is enough evidence to support the claim that the mean time is greater than 29 days at 𝛼 = 0.05

Practice Exercises:
1. The average depth of the Hudson Bay is more than 305 feet. Climatologists were interested in seeing if the effects of
warming and ice melt were affecting the water level. Fifty-five measurements over a period of weeks yielded a sample
mean of 306.2 feet. The population variance is known to be 3.57. Can it be concluded at the 0.05 level of significance that
the average depth has increased?

2. A real estate agent claims that the average price of a home sold in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, is $60,000. A random
sample of 36 homes sold in the county is selected, and the prices in dollars are shown. Is there enough evidence to reject
the agent’s claim at 𝛼 = 0.05? Assume 𝜎 = $76,025.

9,500 54,000 99,000 94,000 80,000 95,000 92,000 38,000 60,000 211,000
29,000 121,500 184,750 15,000 164,450 15,000 28,000 53,500 27,000 21,000
6,000 13,000 188,400 121,000 308,000 76,000 85,000 25,225 40,000 97,000
42,000 7,500 32,900 126,900 25,225 284,000

Note: to get the sample mean, get the average of the prices.
Testing Hypothesis Using z-test of Population Proportion

Example:

A dietician claims that 60% of people are trying to avoid transfat in their diets. She randomly selected 200 people and found
found out that 128 people stated that they were trying to avoid transfat in their diet. At 𝛼 = 0.05, is there enough evidence to
reject the dietician’s claim?

Step 1: State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Then, identify the claim and identify the test.

Ho: 𝑝 = 0.60 Ha: 𝑝 ≠ 0.60 (claim)  two-tailed

Step 2: Find the critical value.

Since 𝛼 = 0.05, then z = 1.96 and z = -1.96 (based on the table and it is two tailed)
Step 3: Compute the test value. First, find 𝑝̂ (p-hat)  sample proportion
𝑝̂ − 𝑝
128
𝑧=
𝑝̂ =
200
, 𝑝̂ = 0.64 √𝑝𝑞/𝑛

Where:
Find q, that is 1 – p (for population proportion)
Take Note: 𝑞̂ is 1 – 𝑝̂ (for sample proportion) 𝑝̂ = sample proportion

𝑞 = 1 − 0.60 = 0.40 p = population proportion

̂−𝑝
𝑝 q = remaining population proportion
𝑧= (1 – p)
√𝑝𝑞/𝑛
0.64−0.60
𝑧= n = number of samples
√(0.60)(0.40)/200
𝑧 = 1.15
Step 4: Make the decision.

Since the computed value is not within the rejection region

Do Not Reject Ho

Step 5: Summarize the results

There is no enough evidence to reject the claim that 60% of people are trying to avoid transfat in their diet
at 𝛼 = 0.05

An attorney claims that more than 25% of all lawyers advertise. A sample of 200 lawyers in a certain city showed that 63 had
used some form of advertising. At 𝛼 = 0.05, is there enough evidence to support the attorney’s claim?

Step 1: State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Then, identify the claim and identify the test.

Ho: 𝑝 ≤ 0.60 Ha: 𝑝 > 0.60 (claim)  right-tailed

Step 2: Find the critical value.

Since 𝛼 = 0.05, then z = 1.64 (based on the table and it is right tailed)
Step 3: Compute the test value. First, find 𝑝̂ (p-hat)  sample proportion
128
𝑝̂ = , 𝑝̂ = 0.315
200
 Find q, that is 1 – p (for population proportion)
Take Note: 𝑞̂ is 1 – 𝑝̂ (for sample proportion)

𝑞 = 1 − 0.25 = 0.75

̂−𝑝
𝑝
𝑧=
√𝑝𝑞/𝑛
0.315−0.25
𝑧=
√(0.25)(0.75)/200
𝑧 = 2.12
Step 4: Make the decision.

Since the computed value is within the rejection region

Reject Ho

Step 5: Summarize the results

There is enough evidence to support the attorney’s claim that more than 25% of the lawyers use some form
of advertising at 𝛼 = 0.05

Practice Exercises:
1. A recent survey found that 68.6% of the population own their homes. In a random sample of 150 heads of households,
92 responded that they owned their homes. At the 0.01 level of significance, does that suggest a difference from the
national proportion?

2. Health issues due to being overweight affect all age groups. Of children and adolescents 6-11 years of age, less than 18.8%
are found to be overweight. A school district randomly sampled 130 in this age group and found out that 20 were considered
overweight. At 𝛼 = 0.05, is this less than the national proportion?

3. The percentage of physicians who are women is more than 27.9%. In a survey of physicians employed by a large university
health system, 45 of 120 randomly selected physicians were women. Is there sufficient evidence at the 0.05 level of
significance to conclude that the proportion of women physicians at the university health system exceeds 27.9%

4. According to Nielsen Media Research, of all the U.S. households that owned at least one television set, less than 83% had
had two or more sets. A local cable company canvassing the town to promote a new cable service found that of the 300
households visited, 240 had two ore more television sets. At 0.05 level of significance, is there sufficient evidence to
conclude that the proportion is less than the one in the report?

5. According to the Digest of Educational Statistics, a certain group of preschool children under the age of one year each
spends an average of 30.9 hours per week in nonparental care. A study of state university center-based programs indicated
that a random sample of 32 infants spent an average of 32.1 hours per week in their care. The standard deviation of the
population is 3.6 hours. At 𝛼 = 0.01 is there enough evidence to conclude that the sample mean differs from the national
mean?

6. A researcher claims that the yearly consumption of soft drinks per person is 52 gallons. In a sample of 50 randomly
selected people, the mean of the yearly consumption was 56.3 gallons. The standard deviation of the population is 3.5
gallons. Using 0.05 level of significance, is the researcher’s claim correct?