Set 9 – Inference Based on a Single Sample: Hypothesis Testing

FORMULAS:

Test of Hypothesis about a Population Mean: (for 𝑛 ≥ 30)

𝑋̅ − 𝜇0
𝑍=
𝑠/√𝑛
where:
𝑋̅ – sample mean
𝜇0 – the value of 𝜇 specified in the null hypothesis
𝑠 – sample standard deviation
𝑛 – sample size

Test of Hypothesis about a Population Mean: (for 𝑛 < 30)

𝑋̅ − 𝜇0
𝑡=
𝑠/√𝑛

where:
𝑋̅ – sample mean
𝜇0 – the value of 𝜇 specified in the null hypothesis
𝑠 – sample standard deviation
𝑛 – sample size

Test of Hypothesis about a Population Proportion

𝑝̂ − 𝑝0
𝑍=
√𝑝0 (1 − 𝑝0 )
𝑛
where:
𝑝̂ – sample proportion
𝑝0 – the value of 𝑝 specified in the null hypothesis
𝑛 – sample size
Test of Hypothesis about a Population Variance

(𝑛 − 1) ∙ 𝑠 2
𝜒2 =
𝜎02

where:
𝑠 – sample standard deviation
𝜎0 – the value of 𝜎 specified in the null hypothesis
𝑛 – sample size
Problem 1.
A supplier of 3.5” disks claims that no more than 1% of the disks are defective. In a random sample
of 600 disks, it is found that 3% are defective, but the supplier claims that this is only a sample
fluctuation. At the 0.01 level of significance, test the supplier’s claim that no more than 1% are
defective.

Problem 2.
The life in hours of a battery is known to be approximately normally distributed. A random
sample of 100 batteries has a mean life of 𝑥̅ = 40.5 hours and standard deviation of 𝑠 = 1.25
hours. Is there evidence to support the claim that battery life exceeds 40 hours? Use 𝛼 = 0.05.

Problem 3.
The school nurse thinks the average height of 7th graders has increased. The average height of a
7th grader five years ago was 145 cm with a standard deviation of 20 cm. She takes a random
sample of 200 students and finds that the average height of her sample is 147 cm. Are 7 th graders
now taller than they were before? Conduct a single-tailed hypothesis test using a 0.05 significance
level to evaluate the null and alternative hypotheses. What is the p-value of the test?

Problem 4.
The high school athletic director is asked if football players are doing as well academically as the
other student athletes. We know from a previous study that the average GPA for the student
athletes is 3.10. After an initiative to help improve the GPA of student athletes, the athletic
director randomly samples 20 football players and finds that the average GPA of the sample is
3.18 with a sample standard deviation of 0.54. Is there a significant improvement? Use a 0.05
significance level.

Problem 5.
You have just taken ownership of a pizza shop. The previous owner told you that you would save
money if you bought the mozzarella cheese in a 4.5-pound slab. Each time you purchase a slab of
cheese, you weigh it to ensure that you are receiving 72 ounces of cheese. The results of 7 random
measurements are 70, 69, 73, 68, 71, 69 and 71 ounces. Are these differences due to chance or is
the distributor giving you less cheese than you deserve?
a) State the hypotheses.
b) Calculate the test statistic.
c) Would the null hypothesis be rejected at 10% level? 5% level? 1% level?

Problem 6.
The Community Mental Health Journal (Aug. 2000) presented the results of a survey of over 6,000
clients of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in Connecticut. One
of the many variables measured for each mental health patient was frequency of social interaction
(on a 5-point scale, where 1 = very infrequently, 3 = occasionally, and 5 = very frequently). The
6,681 clients who were evaluated had a mean social interaction score of 2.95 with a standard
deviation of 1.10. Conduct a hypothesis test (at 𝛼 = 0.01) to determine whether the true mean
social interaction score of all Connecticut mental health patients differs from 3.

Problem 7.
A computer manufacturer requires that springs purchased for installation beneath its keyboard
keys have no more than 𝜎 = 5 grams of variability in the amount of force required for key
depression. From a shipment of several thousand springs, a random sample of 20 springs is
tested, and the standard deviation is 7.78 grams. Assuming a normal distribution for the force
required to compress the springs, use the 0.01 level of significance in examining whether the
shipment meets the manufacturer’s specifications.
Problem 8.
The lightbulbs in an industrial warehouse have been found to have a mean lifetime of 1030.0
hours, with a standard deviation of 90.0 hours. The warehouse manager has been approached by
a representative of Extendabulb, a company that makes a device intended to increase bulb life.
The manager is concerned that the average lifetime of Extendabulb-equiped bulbs might not be
any greater than the 1030 hours historically experienced. In a subsequent test, the manager tests
40 bulbs equipped with the device and finds their mean life to be 1061.6. hours. Does Extendabulb
really work? What is the p-value of the test?

Problem 9.
The career services director of Hobart University has said that 70% of the school’s seniors enter
the job market in a position directly related to their undergraduate field of study. In a sample
consisting of 200 of the graduates from last year’s class, 66% have entered jobs related to their
filed study. Is the director right in his opinion? Assume 0.05 significance level.

Problem 10.
One of the most feared predators in the ocean is the great white shark. It is known that the white
shark grows to a mean length of 21 feet; however, one marine biologist believes that great white
sharks off the Bermuda coast grow much longer owing to unusual feeding habits. To test this
claim, some full-grown great white sharks were captured off the Bermuda coast, measured, and
then set free. However, because the capture of sharks is difficult, costly, and very dangerous, only
three specimens were sampled. Their lengths were 24, 20, and 22 feet. Do these data support the
marine biologist’s claim at 𝛼 = 0.10?

Problem 11.
Because all the spark plugs in a car are usually changed at the same time, there are advantages if
the spark plugs all wear out at about the same time. A spark plug manufacturer has developed a
new spark plug whose length of life is supposed to be more consistent. In extensive studies of the
current type of spark plug, it is known that the population standard deviation is 1,200 miles. In a
random sample of 20 of the new spark plugs, the sample standard deviation was 800 miles. Can
we conclude at the 5% significance level that the new spark plug has a more consistent length of
life than the current type?

Problem 12.
According to research published in BMC Public Health (May 25, 2010), the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, may have led to a spike in miscarriages of male babies. Researchers from
the University of California, using data from the National Vital Statistics System, reported that the
male fetal death rate in September of that year was significantly higher than expected. Suppose it
is known that the miscarriage rate for pregnant women expecting a boy in the United States is 3
in 1,000. In a random sample of 2,000 pregnant women expecting a baby boy during September
of 2001, how many would need to have experienced a fetal death (miscarriage) in order to
support the claim (at 𝛼 = 0.05) that the male fetal death rate in September 2001 was higher than
expected?

Problem 13.
A supplier of tomato seeds boasts that at least 95% of her tomato seeds will eventually produce
tomato plants. A farmer decides to test the claim. He takes a random sample of 400 seeds and
plants them. After two weeks he finds that there are only 368 plants. Can the farmer conclude at
the 1% significance level that the supplier is wrong?

Problem 14.
An oil refiner has developed a new type of oil that is supposed to not only reduce engine wear but
also increase gas mileage. A random sample of 50 cars that have a mean gas mileage of 24 miles
per gallon is selected. When the new oil is put into the cars, each is driven until the gas tank is dry.
The mileage was recorded. The mean and standard deviation of the 50 observations is 𝑥̅ = 26.3
and 𝑠 = 7.6. At the 5% significance level can we conclude that the new type of oil effective in
increasing gas mileage.

Problem 15.
A contract for the delivery of 2 million steel shafts specifies that the variance must be no more
than 0.012 mm2. Before shipping out the shafts, the manufacturer samples 30 shafts and
calculates the sample variance, which she finds to be 𝑠 2 = 0.018 𝑚𝑚2. Can she conclude at the
10% significance level that the contract has been violated? What is p-value for the chi-square
statistic?

Problem 16.
To gauge their fear of going to a dentist, a random sample of adults completed the Modified Dental
Anxiety Scale questionnaire (BMC Oral Health, Vol. 9, 2009). Scores on the scale range from zero
(no anxiety) to 25 (extreme anxiety). The mean score was 11 and the standard deviation was 4.
Summary statistics for the scores of 15 adults who completed the questionnaire are 𝑥̅ = 10.7 and
𝑠 = 3.6. Conduct a test of hypothesis to determine whether the mean Dental Anxiety Scale score
for the population of college students differs from 𝜇 = 11. Use 𝛼 = 0.05.